MUMBAI: The Apex Council of the BCCI left it to the office-bearers to decide on the policy of participation of India’s retired players' in overseas T20 leagues.
"The BCCI is a bit worried that many Indian players will retire early to play in the various lucrative T20 leagues abroad, especially as many teams in these leagues are owned by IPL franchises. Hence, there's a thought being given to perhaps introduce a cooling-off period. However, there are many factors that have to be considered before the present policy of allowing retired players to play in overseas T20 leagues can be altered. Let's see what call the BCCI takes ultimately," a source in the Board told TOI.
Ambati Rayudu will play for Texas Super Kings (TSK) franchise in Major League Cricket in the US, while Robin Uthappa and Yusuf Pathan played for Dubai Capitals in ILT20 in UAE.
BCCI to send teams for Asian Games for the first time
For the first time ever in their sporting history, India will participate in the cricket competition of the Asian Games. “The BCCI will send a men’s and women’s team for the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, in September-October. Hopefully, we’ll win a gold medal in both the categories,” a senior official of the BCCI told TOI on Friday, after a meeting of the Apex Council here.
The BCCI has taken the decision to participate in cricket at the Asiad after being directed to do so by the government of India. As per item No 4 of the agenda (TOI has a copy) circulated amongst the Apex Council members, "the government of India has approached the BCCI with a direction to send both the men's and women's cricket teams to represent India in the upcoming Asian Games, which will be held in China."
"The cricket competition of the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 will be held from September 19 to October 8 at Zhejiang University of Technology Pingfeld Cricket Field. The men's competition will be played from September 28 to October 8, while the women's event will be held from September 19-28," mentions the note.
With the competition coinciding with India hosting the men's ICC ODI World Cup from October 5-November 19, the BCCI will field a second-string Indian team in the men's competition. Former India batting great and National Cricket Academy chairman VVS Laxman is likely to be the head coach of the India men’s team for Asiad.
Cricket has been played only thrice in the Asian Games history-when it was played in Incheon in 2014, India were absent.
Concern expressed on Impact Player rule in Mushtaq Ali
TOI has learnt that a few members during the Apex Council meeting expressed concern about using the Impact Player rule in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, as it's not being used at the international level. After some deliberation, it was decided that the IPL-version of the Impact Player Rule will be used in the SMAT, which will begin from October 16, on an "experimental basis."
The Impact Player was introduced in SMAT last season but it had to be brought before the end of the 14th over and had to be named before the toss.
However, like IPL, the teams will be allowed to name four substitutes besides the playing eleven before the toss. Out of the four substitutes, only one can be used as an Impact Player.
