The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is reportedly prepared to block overseas leagues and prevent English cricketers from participating in these competitions to protect the domestic cricket season. However, the Indian Premier League (IPL), which remains the most lucrative T20 tournament, will be exempt from these restrictions.
Block Overseas Leagues
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is the latest foreign competition set to clash with the English cricket season. The 2025 PSL will run from 7th April to 20th May, overlapping with the county cricket calendar. This could affect up to 16 English players who featured in last year’s tournament. The PSL, alongside other leagues like the Major League Cricket (MLC), the Global T20 Canada, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and Zim Afro T10, is increasingly competing with English domestic cricket, drawing English players abroad during the county season.
Protecting Domestic Cricket
The ECB’s concern is clear: with more players turning to overseas leagues, there is a risk that playing in English domestic cricket will become a “fallback” option. Counties have expressed worry that players under contract in England are regularly missing significant parts of the season to participate in franchise leagues abroad.
Currently, players under ECB central contracts can play in the IPL without issue, while those contracted to counties require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their county and the ECB to play overseas. The ECB has historically taken a relaxed approach to NOCs, leaving decisions to the counties, but under the new policy, the governing body will take a stronger leadership role.
MLC, PSL, and Other Leagues Competitions
Leagues like MLC in the USA, the PSL, and others such as the Global T20 Canada and Zim Afro T10 have been Competing for English talent, increasing competition during the English summer. While the IPL remains protected due to its global stature, the ECB is now weighing a stricter stance on other leagues to prevent further clashes with county cricket.
Counties Concerns
County cricket directors have been pushing the ECB to adopt a firmer stance. Under the current setup, players wield considerable power, with the ability to threaten to move to another county if their current team refuses to release them for overseas commitments. The new policy would prevent this by setting a national standard, ensuring counties are not left at the mercy of individual players’ preferences.
The Hundred Investment Plan 2025
Alongside these decisions, the English Cricket Board is continuing its push to secure investments in The Hundred. The board aims to raise UK£500 million by selling stakes in teams, helping to support the domestic and grassroots game in England. However, this effort has faced some criticism, with IPL founder Lalit Modi calling the ECB’s projections for The Hundred “optimistic” and “disconnected from reality.”
In response, ECB chief executive Richard Gould has defended the initiative, citing interest from around 100 potential investors. The money raised would be crucial for the future of county cricket, ensuring its sustainability over the next two decades.