The England Cricket Board (ECB) has imposed a groundbreaking ban prohibiting red-ball contracted players from participating in franchise T20 leagues like the Pakistan Super League (PSL), ILT20, or BPL during the English domestic season. Only the Indian Premier League (IPL) remains exempt. This move aims to prioritize player availability for the County Championship and The Hundred, addressing growing concerns over domestic cricket’s declining prominence. This is bad news for cricket lovers as PSL 2025 schedule has been announced officially and this ban will affect PSL teams seriously.
Why Did the ECB Implement This Ban?
England players are banned from PSL and other cricket leagues by the ECB due to the following reasons.
- Domestic Fixture Clashes: Players like Jason Roy and Alex Hales skipped key county matches for leagues like the PSL, weakening ECB’s home competitions.
- NOC Restrictions: No Objection Certificates (NOCs) will be denied if leagues overlap with England’s domestic calendar (April–September).
- Player Welfare: Managing workloads to prevent burnout ahead of marquee series like the 2025 Ashes.
White-Ball Exception: Players with ECB white-ball contracts (e.g., Jos Buttler, Phil Salt) can join leagues like the PSL only if they don’t conflict with England’s schedule.
Impact on Players & Leagues
- Most Affected: Jason Roy (skipped Surrey for PSL 2024), Alex Hales (opted for ILT20 over Nottinghamshire).
- PSL’s Blow: Loses star power for playoffs (often held during England’s early-season fixtures).
- IPL Immunity: IPL’s March–May window avoids clashes, preserving ECB’s lucrative partnership.
ECB’s Official Statement
Richard Gould, ECB Chief Executive:
“Protecting the integrity of our domestic competitions is non-negotiable. This policy balances players’ earning opportunities with safeguarding cricket in England and Wales. We’ve seen 74 England players in franchise leagues last year – a record that risks diluting our homegrown talent pipeline.”
By the Numbers
- 74 Players: ECB cricketers in franchise leagues in 2023 (up from 45 in 2022).
- £700k+: Average earnings for English players in leagues like PSL or BPL.
- 0 NOCs Issued: For red-ball players during County Championship season (April–September).
What This Means for Global Cricket?
- PSL’s Dilemma: Reliance on Pakistani stars (Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi) over English recruits.
- County Boost: Players like Ollie Pope (Surrey) and Zak Crawley (Kent) now anchored to domestic duty.
- Precedent: Follows Cricket Australia’s 2022 NOC curbs to shield Sheffield Shield.
Key Takeaways
✅ Red-ball ban: No PSL, ILT20, or BPL for ECB-contracted Test players during domestic season.
✅ IPL exempt: March–May window unaffected.
✅ White-ball flexibility: Players like Jos Buttler can still play PSL if schedules align.
✅ 2025 Ashes prep: ECB prioritizes player fitness for Australia tour.