BCCI should allow Indian players to participate in T20 leagues abroad: Gilchrist

BCCI should allow Indian players to participate in T20 leagues abroad: Gilchrist: Adam Gilchrist, the former Australian cricketer, reckons that the Indian cricketers should be allowed to play in the other T20 leagues apart from being available in the Indian Premier League. He pointed out that the involvement of Indian players in foreign leagues would do wonders for the other cricket boards as well as it will help the IPL to establish more as a brand.

Interestingly, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), presently, doesn’t allow any Indian contracted cricketer to feature in the overseas cricket leagues without their permission to maintain the exclusivity of the Indian Premier League. 

Gilchrist, who has played six IPL seasons, wants to see Indian players playing in the cricket leagues in Australia and other countries.

“It will be wonderful (if the Indian players are allowed to play in overseas T20 leagues), I personally feel that it won’t diminish the IPL, it will only grow them as a brand. If they (Indian players) can play in Australia or South Africa,” Gilchrist told reporters.

The legendary Australian wicketkeeper further added that he had never got an honest answer as to why Indian players are not allowed to take part in foreign cricket leagues.

Notably, Adam Gilchrist’s statement came a day after he criticised the Indian Premier League for its growing dominance in the world.

“I’m not criticising the IPL, but why won’t Indian players come and play in the Big Bash league? I’ve never had an open and honest answer: Why are some leagues accessing every player in the world? No Indian player plays in any other T20 league. I am not saying in a provocative sense, but is that a fair question?” he asked.

“I really want to highlight (that the) six seasons (I played in the IPL) I loved it. It was a great experience. It is the premier T20 competition in the world, but it is important to allow other boards and countries to prosper as well,” he added.

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BCCI contemplating to allow Indian players:

Recently several reports surfaced all over the internet that the BCCI is mulling over the decision to allow its player to play in foreign leagues. The topic has been raised by a couple of IPL franchises having a significant presence in abroad leagues.

“Few IPL teams with a presence in leagues abroad have requested the BCCI to allow Indian players. But we have to discuss this at the AGM before coming to any conclusion,” a senior BCCI official told.

However, it is imperative to note that the IPL’s success is largely because of its exclusivity from the other T20 leagues across the globe. Anything that will hamper that shouldn’t be done for the security of the IPL.

“It is a contentious issue as IPL is successful because of the exclusivity it provides. Definitely, we won’t lose that. As for Indian players playing abroad, it may happen due to growing number of franchise leagues,” added the BCCI official.

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