ILT20 - (Source: AFP)
In a significant development, the ILT20 has rolled out a new rule for the upcoming season, which has not gone well with the six franchises. The 5th edition of the UAE’s premier T20 league will be played between November 22 and December 20.
Notably, ILT20 has its own rules regarding the playing XI, which forces franchises to include a minimum of 2 UAE players in the playing XI. However, the league has made massive changes to their format to promote inclusive squad composition.
ILT20 Mandates Afghanistan, Ireltand Players in Squad
In the latest amendments, ILT20 has mandated four Afghanistan players and one Ireland player to be included in the squad. Notably, the franchises are unhappy and have raised their objection against their move as reported by ESPN Cricinfo.
Not only that, but the new rules mandate that 2 players each from Afghanistan and the UAE should be in the playing XI, while one from Ireland should be in the playing XI. It means that 5 players are already reserved, and it leaves the franchises to pick 6 players from other nations.
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The 6 owners have raised their objection, but the league organsiers have told the franchises that they are going ahead with the new rules for the 5th season of ILT20.
How Will ILT20 Squad Composition look now?
The squad should comprise a minimum of 21 and a maximum of 23 players. Rest, here is the composition that teams will also need to fulfil the following minimum requirements in the squad composition:
11 players from 12 Full Member countries, four UAE players (including at least one capped player and at least one Under-23 player).
Two players from the Gulf Cooperation Council comprising six countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain) and one player from an Associate (not UAE, Saudi or Kuwait). These minimum requirements, ILT20 told franchises, were part of the "Mandatory Players" category.
Why Is ILT20 Imposing Mandatory Players Rule For 5th Season?
Franchise cricket is on the rise, and several leagues now overlap with ILT20. Previously, SA20 ran around the same time as ILT20, and so did the BBL. Notably, it will be the same this year around, so player availability becomes a real issue.
Further, several cricket boards have now put a league cap limit on their players. They have restricted the number of leagues players can play. For example, PCB is considering allowing its players to play a maximum of just 2 overseas leagues.
Therefore, ILT20 want Afghanistan players to have ILT20 as their preferred league, a move that they tried with West Indies players in the initial years. So far, there is no official remark from any official but it seems that the franchises might put forward a single letter to the oraganisers expressing their concern.
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