England and the Welsh Cricket Board (ECB) is set to impose restrictions on English players playing in leagues around the world. According to reports in the Telegraph, the governing body is understood to fear that the players may leave the domestic season for the franchise.
Pakistan The Super League is set to face England in the domestic season next year. The England and Wales Cricket Board is finding ways to protect the local game. Reports claimed that they were considering not allowing players in overseas leagues, leaving aside the Indian Premier League.
It has been learned that the ECB will only allow players to play IPL. But there are players who have a contract with the county teams they will need to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) approved by both their county and the board to appear in overseas cricket during the English summer when the domestic circuit is in full flow.
The reports added that the countries are of the opinion that players see English domestic games as a “give-back” option. They feel that players use their club’s training and medical facilities throughout the year but miss domestic games to play in other leagues.
With the majority of players preferring overseas leagues to the domestic circuit, the England and Wales Cricket Board plans to be tough. They are considering adopting a policy banning players from playing any other cricket during the domestic season. Earlier, countries decided to issue NOCs to players and the ECB did not play much of a role.
The Pakistan Super League is scheduled to run from April 7 to May 20 next season, a window in which England’s domestic season will be played. There are chances that the league will be played in this window every year and the ECB fear that this will have a huge impact on their domestic season.
Last year 16 English players played in PSL and this year in Major League Cricket, Global T20. CanadaThe Caribbean Premier League and the Zim Afro TIO have all clashed over the English summer.
The ECB is likely to publish a game-wide policy next week
One leading player agent spoke about the situation, saying that by playing franchise cricket in the English summer, it could encourage more English players to become white-ball specialists. He told the Telegraph:
“If the PSL stays in the new window, it will push them further into the white ball. The ECB face an uphill battle to retain the County Championship in the current climate.”
Also, along with the PSL, the IPL will also be played simultaneously and the ECB fears that 30 England players could feature in each of these competitions. Therefore, not giving it to the NOCs would encourage players to continue playing in England during the domestic summer.
Reports added that the governing body will release a game-wide policy next week, which will see them call on NOCs. A number of provincial cricket directors urged the governing body to do the same.
