BCCI Working on New Rule for Players Who Want to Play in Foreign Leagues

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to bring in a new retirement policy for Indian cricketers. This has become an important topic because more and more players are saying goodbye to Indian cricket to play in overseas T20 leagues.

The recent case of Vijay Shankar has brought this issue into the spotlight. He announced his retirement from Indian cricket and almost immediately signed up for the Lankan Premier League (LPL). Soon after, the Kandy Royals picked him for the 2026 season.

But Vijay Shankar is not the first to take this path. Over the years, several Indian players have done the same. Names like Dinesh Karthik, Yuvraj Singh, Unmukt Chand, Praveen Tambe, and Irfan Pathan come to mind.

Right now, no active Indian cricketer whether they play for India, in domestic cricket, or in the IPL is allowed to take part in overseas leagues.

What is the BCCI planning to change?

The BCCI’s Apex Council met online on Thursday evening to discuss this matter. They have left the final decision to the BCCI president and secretary. But broadly, the Board is thinking of bringing in a cooling-off period of at least five years.

What does that mean? If a player plays in an overseas league, they may have to wait for five years before they can be connected with Indian cricket again in any way.

Simply put, Indian cricketers will soon have to think very carefully before deciding to play in foreign leagues. If the new rule comes into effect, they may have to stay away from Indian cricket for a long time after playing abroad.

The BCCI is yet to make a final announcement. But one thing is clear: the board wants to protect its cricket and ensure that players don’t leave Indian cricket too easily for the lure of foreign T20 leagues.

                                               

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