Sports · Cricket · 9 hrs ago
ICC proposes tighter rules for T20 franchise leagues
The ICC has proposed tighter control of T20 franchise leagues around the world.
One proposal would limit teams to four overseas players in their playing XI.
The UAE's ILT20 currently allows up to nine overseas players, while Major League Cricket in the United States allows six; both leagues received exemptions when player limits were introduced in 2023.
The proposed limit could push both leagues to use more local players, affecting how they build their teams.
The ICC also wants greater power to review league approvals and proposes restrictions on betting-related sponsorships and stronger anti-corruption safeguards.
Cricket board leaders will discuss the proposals in Bali this weekend, but they have not yet been approved.
The ICC has proposed tighter oversight of T20 franchise leagues, including a limit of four overseas players in a playing XI.
The recommendations could affect the UAE’s ILT20 and the United States’ Major League Cricket, which currently have exemptions from existing player limits.
The proposals would also expand the ICC’s authority over league sanctions and tighten rules on sponsorship and anti-corruption safeguards.
Cricket board heads and chief executives are due to discuss the recommendations at the ICC’s quarterly meetings in Bali.
The proposals follow concerns about integrity, ownership changes and payment disputes in franchise cricket.
- Who
- The International Cricket Council and its franchise leagues review group.
- What
- The ICC has proposed tighter rules for T20 franchise leagues, including a four-overseas-player limit and stricter oversight.
- When
- The recommendations are due to be discussed at the ICC’s quarterly meetings this weekend.
- Where
- The proposals concern leagues worldwide; the meetings are in Bali.
- Why
- The review group cited inconsistencies in league approvals and concerns about integrity, illegal betting and corruption.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The ICC introduced player-capping regulations, with exemptions for the ILT20 and Major League Cricket.
The ICC’s franchise leagues review group put forward recommendations for discussion at the governing body’s quarterly meetings in Bali.
- Proposed overseas-player limit
- Four in a playing XI
- ILT20 current limit
- Up to nine overseas players, including at least one from an Associate Member nation
- Major League Cricket current limit
- Up to six overseas players
- Meeting location
- Bali
- Proposed integrity requirement
- Use the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit or an ICC-approved integrity body
3 sources
What people are saying
This would address the threat posed by the growth of illegal betting (namely betting on unregulated markets or in countries where betting is illegal).
At the moment, the Regulations do not provide any detailed conditions which must be satisfied by a domestic league and different approaches are therefore taken in the various Member territories.