New Delhi: Australian cricket team's former wicket-keeper batter Adam Gilchrist wants the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to allow Indian cricketers to participate in foreign T20 leagues. Indian players haven't been allowed by the BCCI to play in foreign leagues as they fear that it might impact the brand value of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Cash-rich IPL is the world's richest cricket league in T20 format.
“It will be wonderful (if the Indian players are allowed to play in overseas T20 leagues), I personally feel that it won’t diminish the IPL, it will only grow them as a brand. If they (Indian players) can play in Australia or South Africa,” Gilchrist was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
The legendary wicketkeeper-batter clarified he is not against the IPL. Gilchrist played in the Indian Premier League from 2008 to 2013.
“I’m not criticising the IPL, but why won’t Indian players come and play in the Big Bash league? I’ve never had an open and honest answer: Why are some leagues accessing every player in the world? No Indian player plays in any other T20 league. I am not saying in a provocative sense, but is that a fair question?” he added.
With the growing influence of IPL abroad, the demand for allowing Indian players to participate in foreign players has raised significantly. Recently, six IPL franchises bought teams in South Africa's new T20 league. BCCI, under pressure from IPL franchises, is considering allowing Indian players to play in foreign franchise leagues as well, InsideSport reported.