Delhi: Although many big and special issues were discussed in the meeting of various committees of the International Cricket Council, i.e. ICC, held in Bali, but the one issue on which ICC not only looked at this time, but also showed the intention to take action, is very special. Actually, ICC had formed a 'Franchise League Review Group' (whose chief is Bangladeshi cricketer Tamim Iqbal) and now after studying its report, ICC has not only emphasized on increasing but also strengthening its control over the T20 franchise leagues being played in the entire cricket world and for this, many major changes have been proposed in the conditions.
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Note these:
• Count of foreign players: In the T20 franchise leagues playing with the approval of ICC, a maximum of 4 foreign players can play in the playing eleven of the match. The leagues which have got any concession in this matter, that concession has ended.
• ICC to have more powers to monitor and audit the league: The leagues which were started with the approval of the 'full members' i.e. the boards of Test playing countries and not of ICC, now ICC gets the right to not only review their approval but also audit them and if necessary, even cancel the permission to play these leagues. Leagues like IPL, The Hundred and PSL will be included in it.
• Ban on betting and surrogate sponsors: Prohibition of sponsoring betting companies or brands that actually promote gambling, especially in countries where gambling is illegal.
• Anti-corruption monitoring necessary: It is necessary for every league to register with ICC's 'Anti-Corruption Unit' or any equivalent official organization so that they can monitor it and the big leagues will also bear the expenses for it.
• Approval required on big expenses: Approval will be necessary for the expenses of investigation of the league and the system of paying fees to the foreign player's board in lieu of giving NOC to the player, should be brought into a proper structure so that the fee is fixed and not arbitrary, no matter how big the player is.
• An eye on 'League of Legends': The ICC has control over the functioning and proper functioning of the leagues with retired players or those running under the name of 'Legends' because in such leagues, there is no difference between the cricket of active cricketers and retired players?
All these controls, if actually implemented, will bring ICC complete control over all T20 franchise leagues and the decisions which are being taken automatically, without asking/consulting ICC, in leagues like IPL, will stop. Ultimately such a situation came because ICC thought about this and now they are preparing such a framework that they can have complete control over such leagues?
In fact, the biggest problem for the ICC is that due to the increasing number of such leagues, they neither have the same control over international cricket nor the time for its calendar. Result: The space for two-team and overall international cricket is decreasing due to which small boards are lagging behind in the crowd and their earnings are also decreasing. The remaining gap was filled by the increasing threat of match-fixing. Companies promoting gambling are becoming sponsors on it. Overall, there is an atmosphere of arbitrary decisions.
Additionally, the leagues started by Test country boards are dominating the leagues started by smaller cricket countries with the approval of the ICC. The best example of this was seen recently when the Pakistan Cricket Board indulged in 'blackmailing' and demanded arbitrary 'fees' before releasing its players for the leagues of Afghanistan and Nepal.
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Now the question arises whether ICC will actually get this kind of authority and control? If we had controlled this matter from the beginning, it would have been different. Now why would BCCI want to put IPL under the control of ICC? Today they are demanding the right to interfere in its running and tomorrow they will also demand a share in the profits.
Similarly, if leagues like ILT20 and MLC, which themselves started with the approval of ICC, then how can they bring so many local players that they can form multiple teams with only 4 foreign players? Let us tell you that at present 9 foreign players are allowed in a team in ILT20 and 6 in MLC. Therefore, opposition to all these proposals is slowly simmering.
FAQ
What changes does ICC want to make in the rules of T20 franchise league?
ICC wants a maximum of 4 foreign players to play in the playing eleven of all sanctioned T20 leagues. Apart from this, the monitoring and audit rights of the league will also be strengthened.
What impact can ICC's new proposals have on IPL?
If these proposals are implemented then big franchise leagues including IPL may have to come under the monitoring and audit of ICC.
How many foreign players are allowed to play in ILT20 and MLC?
A maximum of 9 foreign players are allowed to play in a team of ILT20, while 6 foreign players are allowed to play in a team of MLC.