Retired players in overseas leagues: Apex Council leaves it to office-bearers

The Apex Council of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has left the matter of retired prayers' participation in the overseas leagues open-ended. The council, which met in Mumbai on Friday (July 7), has authorised the office-bearers to decide on the issue.

The matter has been worrying the BCCI as players are choosing to play in foreign leagues - Ambati Rayudu going to Major League Cricket in the US being the prime example. Players like Robin Uthappa and Yusuf Pathan have already played in ILT20 in UAE.

The BCCI has decided to regulate the player outflow, albeit by retired players. There is a likelihood that the BCCI imposes the condition of an NOC for the players and the decision was expected at the meeting. Eventually, the Friday meeting decided to empower the office bearers to take calls.

Jay Shah confirmed that the office-bearers will come up with a policy soon so that the BCCI can curb what he felt was a pre-determined decision. "We'll (the office-bearers) come out with a policy to prevent the trend of pre-determined retirement. It will be sent to the Apex Council for the approval before the policy is implemented," the BCCI secretary said.

Most of these leagues -- SA20 in South Africa and CPL in the Caribbean besides ILT20 and MLC -- are being bankrolled by Indian investors and it has not exactly amused the BCCI which thinks the surplus from the IPL is being diverted towards other leagues thus swelling the coffers of other boards.

SMAT Impact Sub rule to be similar to that used in IPL 2023

Among other decisions, the apex Council has decided that the Impact Player rules, used in the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be replicated in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 inter-state competition. The Impact Player rule, introduced in the SMAT last season, had a few restrictions like a player could be named only before the 14th over. That clause will be removed from this year onwards and an Impact Player can be introduced at any stage of a game, just like in the IPL. However, a BCCI release has stated that teams will have to name their XI and the four substitutes before the toss.

In other changes to the SMAT tournament, the board has decreed that two bouncers can be bowled in an over. This is to ensure greater balance between bat and ball in the contest.

Meanwhile, Shah also revealed that the support staff for the women's team will be announced before the Asian Games. "The CAC has recommended the name of a head coach. They will also interview batting and fielding coaches. We will announce the names of all coaches before the Asian Games, " he said.

On the BCCI media rights, which was part of the agenda, Shah said the process will be done by the end of August. The deal will kickstart with eight white-ball games against Australia. There will be three ODIs in September, which will be in September, part of the preparation for the World Cup. There will be five T20Is in December, immediately after the World Cup

The meeting also decided to clear Indian teams' participation in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, in September-October. A full-strength men's squad could not be sent because of the overlap of dates with the World Cup in October-November.