ICC Chief Executive David Richardson on Monday clarified that they won’t interfere in the running of the Indian Premier League (IPL), saying the prime objective is to ensure other T20 leagues across the globe operate within a consistent framework.
“We are fortunate to have some outstanding T20 leagues, including the IPL, which set the gold standard for operations globally and this working group (of ICC) has taken into account those standards when developing the draft set of regulations. Our primary objective is to ensure that other leagues around the world put in place the same minimum criteria and operate within a consistent framework,” Richardson said in a statement.
Quashing all reports that suggested the ICC was somehow seeking to interfere in or dictate to the IPL, Richardson said, “That is not the case. As the chief executives' committee and the ICC board were advised over the past few days, the development of the regulations has been led by the working group, on behalf of its members, to ensure the long-term health and reputation of the sport internationally and domestically," he said.
The ICC set up a working group in June 2018 to consider sanctioning of events and player release.
“The primary purpose of the group was to address members' concerns regarding the proliferation of T20s 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,” Richardson said.
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 members.
"They (draft regulations) also recognise 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," the ICC chief executive said.