Twenty20

Indian Premier League

West Indies Cricket Board

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is contemplating coming up with sanctions so that there won't be too manymercenaries loitering around the world. During its annual conference in Dublin next week, the world body will formulate a policy in which a cricketer can take part in only one overseas T20 tournament apart from his home league.The move was necessitated following major boards' complaint that their players are preferring overseas tournaments like(IPL), Big Bash League (BBL), Pakistan Super League (PSL) etc to international cricket. Some players such as AB de Villiers are announcing retirement from international cricket so that they can actively take part in T20 leagues world over with their income unaffected.The new policies are unlikely to affect the IPL and Indian cricketers, which means the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will not be forced to spare its players for other leagues. Besides, the move will also potentially take the sheen off many international leagues given the fact that the creme de la creme of world cricket is expected to prefer IPL to others.It means big IPL stars like Chris Gayle, Rashid Khan, de Villiers, Shane Watson, Kieron Pollard, Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, David Warner will have the option of playing only in the IPL apart from their respective domestic leagues. Most of these players take part in multiple T20 tournaments currently.Said a source with direct knowledge of the development, "It's the first meeting (the ICC annual conference) but it's ensuring that all of the domestic leagues popping up have minimum standards around governance/anti-corruption/paying players etc. Besides, the leagues don't compromise players playing international cricket."They may also consider limiting the number of overseas leagues that players can play in but also ensuring that they're appropriately rewarded for international cricket. A whole host of things to consider." A BCCI official has confirmed to this paper that such a move is in the offing given that the T20 leagues are affecting international cricket."But it will not have any impact on the BCCI or the IPL as the new rules will not be violative of the BCCI policy on T20 tournaments," the BCCI official said.It has been the BCCI's steadfast policy that Indian players cannot take part in overseas franchise T20 leagues.The move was first suggested by the(WICB) as most of its key players play T20 leagues around the world but the need for sanctions was felt by other boards soon. Currently, there are domestic franchise T20 leagues in India, Pakistan, South Africa (coming up), Australia, England (coming up), West Indies, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.