Cricket News

Indian cricket board share their thoughts on Indian franchises venturing into foreign leagues

The Indian T20 League is one of the best leagues as compared to the other leagues across the world. The league stands out for its ability to deliver talents and groom them to play for their respective countries. While it is also proving to be a grooming platform for the Indian players, cricketers from other countries have also tried their best to make it a stage to storm into their national sides. 

On the other hand, the franchises are showing keen interest in owing clubs in domestic leagues of other countries. To add more, while Delhi, Mumbai and K0lkata own a club in the UAE’s ILT20, the likes of Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow and Rajasthan own a club apiece in the South African league, SA20. 

Reports emerged on December 24, Saturday, a day after the Indian T20 League mini-auction of the 2023 edition claiming that the Indian Cricket Board was reportedly unhappy with teams owning franchises in other leagues. The reports further claimed that the board understood that there are franchises that already own them and opined to avoid such venturing in the future. 

Indian cricket board make their stand clear

As things stand, the Chairman of the Indian T20 League Arun Singh Dhumal claimed that it was out of the hands as they have no right to restrict the other boards from starting their own leagues. Further, Dhumal claimed that the board understands the business interests of the franchises and claimed that it would stand by the teams of the Indian tournament. 

“Not really. Other boards have all the right to start their leagues. But we have seen that the Indian T20 League is way ahead. A few of them (franchise owners) have interests in other leagues. They have to look after their business interests. We can’t stop them. They have money in their kitty, so it is their choice,” Dhumal was quoted as saying to Cricbuzz. 

“That was the point. They tried to discourage them from participating in foreign leagues. They understood those who are already there. But they tried to dissuade us from taking such steps in the future,” an official was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz on condition of anonymity.