In a new development likely to affect the Pakistan Super League, the England & Wales Cricket Board has announced that it is barring its players from playing in the PSL during the English domestic season. Other leagues and several global tournaments also suffer the same fate as those falling within the English summer months include the Sri Lanka Premier League. The ECB’s move is a step to privilege its domestic competitions, that include the County Championship, Vitality Blast, and The Hundred, while providing guarantees to the integrity and quality of these events.
What Does The New Policy Say?
The new rules will prohibit players to play in two overlapping leagues: a flexibility which was allowed previous to the guidelines. Such as joining another league following the elimination of a team from another league, for instance.
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“This policy gives clarity to players and professional counties around our approach to issuing No Objection Certificates. It will enable us to strike the right balance between supporting players who want to take up opportunities to earn and gain experience, while also protecting the integrity of cricket globally,” Richard Gould, ECB chief executive, said on the policy.
What Are The Exceptions?
However, there are exceptions. Players on white-ball-only contracts, such as Saqib Mahmood, are still permitted to play in leagues like the PSL and other similar tournaments. But players with contracts involving first-class cricket will not be granted the necessary No-Objection Certificate (NoC) to play in these leagues. Additionally, permission to miss domestic white-ball matches to participate in international tournaments will not be granted under the new rules.
England Players Allowed To Play In IPL
As there comes a time when T20 leagues around the world are coming one after another, and some countries are launching their new domestic leagues. Last season around the globe, 74 ECB qualified players played in franchise tournament for their respective countries, yet in this season, ECB seems strict to focus on domestic competition and asking players to emphasize on local competitions.
The exception, however, is English players: they are still permitted to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL), held every year during April and May.
