BCCI doesn’t allow men’s cricketers to participate in the foreign leagues, but players express desire to play abroad. The latest one is India’s wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik, who has confessed that he would love to be a part of ECB’s newly formed league – The Hundred.
Karthik, who is currently in the United Kingdom for a commentary stint with Sky Sports, admitted that if the opportunity presents itself, he would love to play in The Hundred. But he also acknowledged that the chances of that happening are very slim given the rules in place.
Karthik also pointed out there are several players like Robin Uthappa and Suresh Raina, who also share the same desire to play in the foreign leagues. The wicket-keeper batter hopes that things will change in the future.
“Given an opportunity, why not? But because of the rules that are in place right now, we are not able to come to play. But who knows, if things can change, why not?
I know a few of the cricketers – the likes of Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa – they have come out and said they would like to play a few other franchise leagues but I don’t think it’s been accepted as of now,”
he told The Guardian.
Kolkata Knight Riders wicketkeeper still has hopes for a comeback in the Indian team. He understands that he can’t play in the foreign leagues as long as he’s an active player for the BCCI. He further added that he’s happy to follow the rules.
“So we’ll wait and see. I would love to play. But with the rules in place, I’m very happy following them. We represent the BCCI, we represent the country. Whatever the rules are, I guess we have to follow them at this point in time,”
Karthik added.
The BCCI’s rigid policy on player participation
The Indian players have to get a NOC from the BCCI to play abroad, but it’s only possible after they retire from domestic and international cricket. The board’s stance on the issue is so strict that Pravin Tambe was banned from IPL for his participation in a foreign league. Harbhajan Singh, who had given his name for the initial draft of the Hundred, had to withdraw in order to continue playing in the IPL.
The voices from the different quarters of not just Indian but world cricket have been raised to allow Indian players to participate in overseas leagues. Many players have talked about how playing in the overseas leagues in off seasons can help enhance their game. But it’s quite obvious that the board has this policy in place to protect their cash cow IPL, to protect the USP of the tournament.
Indian women’s players, on the other hand, are allowed to play in the foreign T20 leagues. Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur have already featured in the Women’s Big Bash League.
Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma are set to feature in the inaugural edition of the Women’s Hundred.
Verma has also signed a contract with Sydney Sixers for the upcoming edition of the WBBL. A few other women’s cricketers are also expected to join her in Australia.
