Cricket

Overseas Players Face Stricter IPL Rules to Prevent WithdrawalsThe Indian Premier League (IPL) has implemented new regulations to discourage overseas players from withdrawing after being auctioned. These rules aim to ensure player availability and prevent disruptions for franchises.Mandatory Registration and AvailabilityOverseas players must now register for the mega auction. Failure to do so will make them ineligible for the subsequent mini-auction. Once registered and selected, players must remain available throughout the season.Penalties for WithdrawalsIf an overseas player withdraws before the season starts without a valid reason, such as a confirmed injury by their home board, they will face a two-season ban from the tournament and player auctions.Fitness Assessment and ReportingPlayers with a history of recurring injuries, like Ben Stokes, must undergo a fitness assessment by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) if they participate in the IPL mega auction and subsequently get injured. If they withdraw after the assessment, they must report to the BCCI's medical team or risk missing the next two seasons of IPL.Capped Fee for Mini-AuctionsTo further deter withdrawals, the IPL has capped the maximum fee for overseas players at mini-auctions. This fee will be the lowest of the highest retention price and the highest auction price from the mega auction.Impact on Overseas PlayersThese new rules require overseas players to carefully consider their availability and fitness before participating in the IPL. Failure to comply with the regulations could result in significant penalties that could impact their careers.

The exodus of Kiwi cricketers from national contracts to lucrative T20 leagues has raised concerns about player availability for New Zealand, according to captain Tim Southee. Star players like Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, and Finn Allen have recently opted for casual contracts, prioritizing franchise cricket over central contracts with New Zealand Cricket.Southee acknowledged the challenges this trend poses, particularly given New Zealand's limited player pool. "It's a small cricketing country in terms of numbers," he said. "It would be great to have as many people as possible available for New Zealand, but the way the world is going, it's getting harder and harder."New Zealand faces a demanding schedule in the coming months, with six Tests in the subcontinent, including three against India. The conditions will be vastly different from those in New Zealand, and Southee expects spinners to dominate."Conditions are foreign to what we're used to," Southee said. "But we're excited about the chance of playing six Test matches on the bounce here in the subcontinent."Southee, a pace bowler, may miss a game or two due to the expected dominance of spinners. "We've got four quality pace bowlers at our disposal," he said. "So it's about working out what balance is right."After the India series, New Zealand will host England for a Test series, concluding their World Test Championship duties. Southee emphasized the challenges of playing nine Tests in a short period."It's a challenge for every side," he said. "For players playing multi-formats, you have to balance the chopping and changing nature of busy schedules."Despite Afghanistan's inexperience in Test cricket, Southee warned against underestimating them. "Afghanistan has been an improving side for a number of years," he said. "They've got a lot of confidence from their success in the T20 World Cup and the one-day World Cup."

England's women cricketers will miss the latter stages of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) due to a clash with their tour of South Africa. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has informed players that they are expected to join the national team in South Africa on specific dates, regardless of any overlap with WBBL games.This decision aims to avoid a repeat of the situation earlier this year, when the end of the Women's Premier League (WPL) overlapped with England's arrival in New Zealand for a bilateral series. Players were forced to choose between club and country.The ECB notified players and their agents of the requirements before the WBBL draft. England is scheduled to play three T20Is in South Africa starting November 24, followed by three ODIs from December 4 and a Test starting on December 15.Seven England players were signed in the WBBL draft, including Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophie Ecclestone, and Heather Knight. The ECB took a similar stance last year, with Bess Heath and Danielle Gibson missing the WBBL final to join England's squad in India.The WPL announced its 2024 fixtures in January, with the final falling two days before England's first T20I in New Zealand. New Zealand Cricket declined an ECB request to move the dates.Jonathan Finch, Director of England Women's Cricket, emphasized the need for better coordination between tournaments. He said the ECB is working on aligning the Women's Future Tours Program to avoid future clashes.Finch acknowledged the financial implications for players who may miss out on lucrative WPL contracts. However, he stressed that players signing central contracts with England are expected to prioritize international commitments.The ECB is also considering introducing multi-year central contracts to provide players with greater security. Finch believes this will reduce the need for case-by-case discussions about player availability.

The BBL and WBBL drafts are set to take place on September 1, where the eight clubs in each competition will secure overseas players for the 2024-25 season. The draft process has undergone significant changes this year, with clubs now allowed to pre-sign one overseas player before the draft.Draft Order and Rounds:The draft order was determined by a weighted lottery based on last season's finishing positions. In the WBBL, Hobart Hurricanes have the first pick, while Perth Scorchers have the last. In the BBL, Melbourne Stars will have the first pick, and Sydney Sixers will have the eighth.The draft consists of four rounds, with each round featuring different player categories:* Round 1: Platinum players* Round 2: Platinum and Gold players* Round 3: Gold and Silver players* Round 4: Silver and Bronze playersPre-Signed Players and Retention:Clubs have already taken advantage of the new pre-signing rule, with all eight clubs securing at least one overseas player before the draft. These pre-signed players will be allocated to a specific round based on the value of their contract.Each club also has one retention pick, which can be used to retain a player who played for the club the previous season or who was signed last year but did not play.Player Availability:The WBBL and BBL seasons have been reduced to 40 games each, which has impacted player availability. The WBBL starts just seven days after the T20 World Cup, and there are various bilateral cricket series scheduled during the competition.In the BBL, most pre-signed players have committed to a full season, but some players drafted in the draft itself may leave early due to commitments to other T20 leagues.Player Salaries:Players are divided into four price bands based on their value:* WBBL: * Platinum: $110,000 * Gold: $90,000 * Silver: $65,000 * Bronze: up to $40,000* BBL: * Platinum: $360,000-$420,000 * Gold: $300,000 * Silver: $200,000 * Bronze: up to $100,000

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced its intention to closely monitor player availability and participation in the upcoming domestic cricket season (2024-25). This move is a clear indication that the BCCI expects India internationals to prioritize domestic competitions when not selected for the national team.The BCCI's decision stems from the recent controversy surrounding the exclusion of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan from the list of BCCI-contracted players due to their absence from state team matches. The board is keen to ensure that international players remain committed to domestic cricket and continue to develop their skills across all formats.The monitoring process will involve assessing player performance in domestic competitions and tracking their availability for state teams when not on India duty. The BCCI will also consider the workload management of players, as evidenced by the decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah for the upcoming ODI series in Sri Lanka.According to reports, the topic of player availability was discussed during the recent selection committee meeting. The BCCI has reportedly spoken to Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli regarding their availability for the Sri Lanka tour, leading to their inclusion in the ODI squad.The BCCI's focus on domestic cricket aligns with the vision of new head coach Gautam Gambhir, who has emphasized the importance of players competing in all three formats. By monitoring player availability and participation, the BCCI aims to foster a strong domestic circuit that will produce high-quality players for the Indian team.

Kane Williamson, the former New Zealand captain, has confirmed his participation in the inaugural season of the SA20 league in January 2023. This decision comes after Williamson declined a central contract with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) for the 2024-25 season.Williamson emphasized that his decision was primarily driven by NZC's player availability rules, which require players to participate in the Super Smash domestic tournament if not on international duty. He stressed that his commitment to New Zealand cricket remains unwavering, despite his absence from the SA20.The SA20 league will likely see Williamson miss only a handful of international matches, including three ODIs and three T20Is against Sri Lanka. However, his participation in the one-off Test against Afghanistan in September remains uncertain. Williamson will participate in the World Test Championship series against Sri Lanka and India, the three-match home series against England, and an ODI tour of Pakistan ahead of the Champions Trophy in February.Williamson expressed his excitement about the SA20 league, stating that it is a "really exciting" competition. He acknowledged that his decision to decline the central contract was a difficult one, but emphasized that his priority remains playing for New Zealand.Regarding the longevity of his international career, Williamson indicated that he intends to play as long as possible. He acknowledged that major events and series, such as the 2028 T20 World Cup in New Zealand and Australia, remain on his radar. However, he emphasized the importance of managing his time and fitness effectively.Williamson also expressed his desire to continue playing across all three formats of international cricket. However, he acknowledged that his T20 spot may come under scrutiny as the team rebuilds following their disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup in the West Indies.NZC CEO Scott Weenink stated that the casual playing arrangement afforded to Williamson will only be offered to a select few senior players who have earned the right to be treated in a certain way. He cited Trent Boult and Tim Southee as other players who have been granted this option.