ICC Proposes New Regulations to Oversee Global T20 Franchise Leagues
ICC's New Regulatory Framework for T20 Leagues
Dubai [UAE], November 12: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to enhance its regulatory authority over T20 franchise leagues worldwide. This initiative includes a series of proposed changes that could impact the operations and financial viability of leagues like the UAE's ILT20 and Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States, as reported by a leading sports news outlet.
The ICC's franchise leagues review group has put forth these recommendations, which will be discussed by cricket board leaders and chief executives during the governing body's quarterly meetings in Bali this weekend. If these proposals receive approval, they could significantly alter the landscape of global franchise cricket by increasing the ICC's control over league operations, player involvement, sponsorship, and anti-corruption protocols.
A major recommendation includes stricter enforcement of existing overseas player limits, suggesting a cap of four overseas players in a playing XI. This change could particularly impact the ILT20 and MLC, which were previously granted exemptions when the ICC introduced player capping rules in 2023.
Currently, the ILT20 allows up to nine overseas players in its playing XI, including at least one from an Associate Member nation, while MLC permits six. Reducing this number to four may compel both leagues to depend more on locally developed talent from the UAE and the United States, potentially affecting their competitive edge and marketability.
Both leagues have strong ties to Indian franchise cricket, with five of the six ILT20 franchises linked to IPL or WPL teams, and four MLC franchises associated with IPL ownership groups.
The ICC also aims to broaden its authority to review or audit sanctions imposed on franchise leagues by Full Member boards. Currently, Full Members can sanction domestic leagues within their territories, while leagues organized by Associate Members require additional ICC approval.
The proposed changes would empower the ICC to intervene if a Full Member fails to fulfill its obligations in sanctioning a league. The governing body could reject applications or revoke existing sanctions if significant integrity issues arise.
Additionally, the review group has recommended limiting sponsorship agreements with betting companies or their affiliates, especially in regions where gambling is illegal. This measure aims to mitigate the risks associated with illegal betting, which poses a threat to the integrity of cricket.
The proposal states: “This would address the threat posed by the growth of illegal betting (namely betting on unregulated markets or in countries where betting is illegal). Such sponsorship exposes host Members to the risk of facilitating illegal betting in cricket, which carries the potential for increased corruption, and raises clear ethical and governance questions for the sport.”
Another significant recommendation involves anti-corruption oversight, mandating leagues to engage the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) or an integrity body approved by the ICC as a condition for receiving sanction.
For leagues deemed to have a high risk of corruption, the ICC's ACU could be involved, with costs covered by the league organizers on a non-profit basis. However, if adequate safeguards cannot be established, the application may be denied.
The review group has also suggested implementing a fee for sanctioning franchise leagues, with the revenue potentially allocated for due diligence checks and corruption investigations.
These recommendations arise amid increasing concerns regarding integrity issues, ownership changes, and payment disputes within the expanding franchise cricket circuit. The review group has pointed out inconsistencies in the current approval process, advocating for more stringent requirements before leagues receive domestic sanction.
“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,” the document states.
“A more detailed structure should be put in place (through the Regulations) setting out the conditions that a franchise league would need to satisfy before it could obtain a domestic sanction.”
The review group, led by former Bangladesh opener and current Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal, includes notable figures such as England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Richard Gould, Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg, and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia.
In addition to the primary recommendations, the group has highlighted several other issues for further discussion, including standardizing solidarity payments made by leagues to the cricket boards of overseas players participating in their competitions.
Currently, these amounts are negotiated between the respective boards, which has occasionally led to disputes. The group has proposed considering a uniform fee, potentially calculated as a fixed percentage, across leagues and players.
The status of legends leagues has also been addressed, with the review group expressing concerns about competitions involving retired players and their potential overlap with sanctioned cricket involving active players.
Furthermore, discussions have been called for regarding whether individual ICC members should face restrictions on the number of franchise leagues they can host, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding international cricket's role in promoting and developing the sport globally.
The ICC's chief executives' committee (CEC) will review these recommendations and forward relevant proposals to the ICC Board for approval, potentially paving the way for a significant overhaul of regulations governing T20 franchise cricket.