Why BCCI Does Not Allow Indian Players To Play In Overseas T20 Leagues

The BCCI’s decision to not allow the Indian players play in overseas leagues has baffled the cricketing world for quite some time now. At a time, when none of the boards across the world are showing any hesitancy in letting their players play the franchise leagues, the BCCI has remained firm on its stance.

What is baffling that the decision has now only robbed the players of opportunity to earn some more money but also a chance to enhance their skills by playing in different conditions. Not only that, the players are also missing out on chance to impress the selectors during the off-season.

The likes of Krunal Pandya, Mayank Agarwal, Sanju Samson have impressed in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League. But they are yet to break into the senior team. One of the reasons behind that can be that the selectors are not yet convinced about their potential to deliver at the big stage. This is where playing in overseas league could come in handy.

How good would it be if, instead of practising in nets – these players get a chance to play outside a India. A match situation teaches a player more than any amount of nets can, especially in T20. In fact, some seniors can also benefit from playing in overseas leagues.

Veteran spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, for example, have fallen down the pecking order in white-ball cricket. They have not been picked in the team since being dropped last year. A stint outside India would not only help them enhance their skills but would also allow the selectors to have more options at their disposal.

But for some reason known only to it, the BCCI is not letting its players to play in overseas T20 leagues. Perhaps the Indian board wants to protect the IPL brand which is head and shoulders above the other leagues.

It seems like that for BCCI is more concerned about saving the IPL’s stature rather than focussing on the players’ skillset. One of the biggest reasons behind IPL’s immense success is the players playing in it. Almost all the top players from around the world feature in this league. And so if the Indian players, who are perhaps the biggest crowd pullers in the modern day game, do not play in other leagues, the IPL would remain ahead of its competitiors.

But amidst all this, the BCCI is forgetting that the main motive behind IPL is to develop the players. So if playing in overseas leagues benefit the players, it is high time the BCCI changes its stance and let the players ply their trade outside India.