Ravi Shastri Makes a Statment to Supports Indian Players to Play in Foreign T20 Leagues

Former coach of the Indian cricket team Ravi Shastri has supported the idea of non-contracted Indian players participating in overseas T20 leagues. He believes that such a move will not impact the quality of the Indian Premier League but instead offer more financial stability and exposure to the players. The current policy of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) only allows retired players to play in overseas T20 leagues. However, with IPL franchises expanding globally, Shastri predicts that this policy will change in the near future.

Presently, the BCCI does not release its players for overseas T20 leagues, but the foreign board receives 10% of every foreign player’s salary without affecting the player’s earnings. Unlike overseas players, Indian cricket stars have not played in T20 leagues outside of India. Nonetheless, senior women’s cricket team members have played in The Hundred and Big Bash League, thanks to the different rules governing them.

Shastri Wants Indian Players to Take Part in the Overseas Leagues

“Look at the volume of people in this country, we are 1.4 billion, and only 11 can play for India, What will the others do? They have an opportunity to play white-ball cricket, it’s their strength, globally, across different franchises in the world. Grab that opportunity. It’s common sense, it’s their living. It’s their income. Nobody will be able to deprive them of this. They (players) are not contracted by BCCI. What stops them going? Nothing like getting exposure. How much do they want to protect their own league (IPL)? You’ve got to see where they come from, and rightly so. This is our league and protecting this league is paramount as far as our interest goes. But by letting certain players go, it’s not going to affect the league in any way,” Ravi Shastri told ESPNCricinfo.

Numerous players have expressed their interest in participating in T20 leagues abroad, but the congested cricket schedule is posing challenges. Each Indian player has a brand value, which they carry with them to every league or tournament they participate in. However, Indian male players are permitted to compete in county cricket and List A matches, but they are prohibited from playing T20 cricket to avoid promoting that league.