The International Cricket Council (ICC) is deliberating expanding its powers over T20 franchise leagues, aiming to address issues related to the game’s integrity and scheduling. This move might significantly affect leagues like the UAE’s ILT20 and the USA’s Major League Cricket (MLC), among others.
A review group formed this July has put forward several recommendations, which will be discussed at a quarterly ICC meeting in Bali. If adopted, these could considerably alter the franchise landscape. Key points include:
– Adhering to existing caps on overseas players per team, possibly impacting leagues like ILT20 and MLC who rely on their international stars.
– Expanding ICC’s authority to audit or revoke sanctions granted by Full Member nations (previously, only Associate Member leagues needed such approval).
– Prohibiting sponsorships from betting companies in countries where gambling is illegal, to prevent potential corruption.
– Mandating that leagues use ICC-approved anti-corruption units.
– Introducing a fee for league sanctions to fund integrity measures.
The ILT20 and MLC currently depend heavily on overseas players. With ILT20 allowing up to nine and MLC six, a cap of four could threaten the viability of these leagues. This would necessitate greater reliance on local talent from the UAE and USA. Notably, both leagues have strong ties to Indian ownership, particularly the IPL.
A league official expressed concern: “We were assured before that we were protected under the grandfather clause [which exempts existing leagues from new rules].”
The review group, led by Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal and including officials from England, Australia, and India, emphasized the need for stricter regulation due to previous cases of corruption and unsteady league operations. ICC’s anti-corruption head, Andy Ephgrave, indicated this was a growing issue in franchise cricket, with more reports of corruption than in international cricket.
Recommendations also entail preventing betting-related sponsorships to tackle illegal betting risks. Additionally, they propose charging a fee for granting league sanctions, using these funds for due diligence and investigations.
Further discussion points include standardising solidarity payments (fees paid when overseas players participate) and determining the status of ‘legends leagues,’ which raise integrity queries concerning active and retired players.
Another idea suggested is limiting the number of leagues an ICC member can host, highlighting the need for preserving international cricket’s role globally.
These proposals and additional points will be examined by the Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) and possibly forwarded for board approval.
