The International Cricket Council (ICC) will soon be discussing ways to tighten up the functioning of various T20 and T10 leagues in the future when it meets next week, a top official said Wednesday. Since the inception of the money-spinner like Indian Premier League (IPL), many ICC member nations have launched their own leagues in what is seen by some as a threat to five-day Test cricket and the scheduling of international games.
The latest format showcased in the game is the ICC-sanctioned T10 (10-over-a-side) league held in Sharjah last year. Geoff Allardice, general manager of cricket for the ICC, said the matter would be discussed at their board meeting in Singapore on October 20.
Allardice explained, “One of the things we will be talking about in our meeting next week is around regulations and sanctioning of events and also the release of players (for leagues). So you look at all of the documentation and the ownership structures and how the league is going to be funded and all these types of things and then you provide approval. I think it will be a bit harder to get sanctions in the future and any tournament would need both the support of the home country and the ICC.”
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The Masters Cricket League (involving retired and semi-retired players) held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) hit a snag after its first and only edition in 2016, with players not getting any payment. The Pakistan Cricket Board also raised reservations over the T10 league, the second edition of which will start next month in Sharjah, after the Indian sponsors of the event were investigated back home over wrongdoings.
Talking about the same, Allardice said, “So the future success of a league is in jeopardy. The other thing is if we get reports that that sort of things happen then the likelihood of sanctioning the second edition of a league is significantly reduced. I think perhaps the hurdles to jump for a promoter to put on a T20 league are going to be a bit higher and that the vetting process by both the host country and by the ICC would be enhanced.”
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However, Allardice also assured that most of the international cricketers are looking forward to playing Test as some of the people who are choosing to play T20 leagues aren’t regular Test cricketers at the time they make their decisions.”
Allardice also added that leagues cab e a good promoter of the game in new countries, he said, “It’s a balance because the leagues can be a good vehicle for promoting cricket in new countries: there was a tournament in Canada not so long ago. That gave some cricket fans the chance to see some elite cricketers. It could be a good step but the league has also got to be good for the game.”
