||Desk Report||

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson updated the progress on the development of regulations around short-form leagues in the recently concluded ICC board meeting on March 2 in Dubai. The global governing body of cricket issued a press release on March 4 that their standpoint on professional leagues.  

According to the ICC, the ICC Working Group, which has been set up in June 2018 to consider the sanctioning of events and player release at the request of ICC members, will continue developing the regulations over the coming months. ICC stated that it wants to ensure the safety and welfare of the players as well as the long-term health and reputation of the cricket. But, the proliferation of domestic T20 and other short-form leagues have created challenges to and conflicts with the international playing calendar.  

“The primary purpose of the group was to address Members’ concerns regarding the proliferation of domestic T20 and other short-form leagues around the world. These have created challenges to and conflicts with the international playing calendar and often rely on a disproportionate number of international players from foreign countries,” stated ICC Chief Executive in the press release.  

However, the higher authority of the cricket believed that these “Poorly resourced and structured leagues” are not helpful for the growth and development of the cricket, rather they foster corruption and non-payment issues that can damage the cricket’s reputation.

“Poorly resourced and structured leagues are not sustainable in the long-term and may not support or invest in the growth and development of the game. They may also present challenges around corruption, failed leagues and non-payment of players all of which can damage cricket’s global reputation,” ICC added.

So, ICC is drafting a set of regulations for short-form domestic leagues. Also it believed that the set of regulations will protect the health, safety and welfare of the professional cricketers: “A set of draft regulations have been developed over the past few months, which are designed to introduce minimum standards for short-form domestic leagues to safeguard cricket’s reputation and protect the long term health of the Members.”

“They also recognize and encourage the important role that these leagues, when staged by or in partnership with Members, can play in the promotion of the sport, in raising operational standards, protecting the health, safety and welfare of its participants and enabling professional cricketers to reap the rewards of their talents by mandating minimum contractual protections for players.”