English Cricketers To Be Let In By IPL Rule Change
Another stumbling block over English cricket players’ participation in the lucrative Indian Premier League is set to be removed with the league due to expand the number of overseas players which teams are allowed to sign.
The IPL are due to discuss the proposal at a meeting in Bangkok this month. Under current legislation, IPL teams can sign eight overseas players but only field four at a time.
This number is set to be increased to five while it is also expected that the IPL will raise its salary cap from $5m to $7m.
With many franchises already having eight overseas players it had been thought that cricketers from England would miss out, but the rule change will free up new berths when the second IPL season starts in April.
Players on central contracts will only be allowed to sign IPL deals with the permission of Peter Moores, the England coach, and it is unlikely they will be available for more than 10 days, with the competition clashing with a Test series against Sri Lanka.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has already rejigged its calendar to allow England players to compete in some IPL matches.
No England internationals were allowed to compete in the inaugural season of the IPL earlier this year.
