Franchises in the International League T20 (ILT20) have reportedly raised concerns over new player recruitment rules, according to a report by ESPNCricinfo. The league has introduced regulations that require all six teams to sign a minimum number of players from specific countries starting from the next season.
The tournament is set to be played from November 22 to December 20, 2026. Under the new rules, every team must include at least four players from Afghanistan and one player from Ireland in their final squad. The changes are expected to have a significant impact on franchises' overseas recruitment strategies.
According to the Player Contracting Model document obtained by ESPNCricinfo, the league informed franchise owners about the new squad rules in May. The report stated that although teams submitted strong objections in writing, the organizers remain committed to implementing the new regulations.
Under the revised rules, every playing XI must include at least two players from Afghanistan, two UAE players, and one player from an Associate nation. In addition, each franchise must have a squad of between 21 and 23 players for the tournament.
To meet the new requirements, teams must sign players from Full Member nations while also accommodating regional and domestic quotas. Every squad must include four UAE players, including at least one capped international cricketer and one Under-23 player as part of the league's development plans.
Growing Concerns Over NOC Restrictions Influence ILT20's New Strategy
The ILT20 introduced these national player quotas to ensure better player availability amid a crowded global cricket calendar. The report stated that league officials are concerned that Full Member boards could place stricter limits on no-objection certificates (NOCs), making it harder to attract top international players in the future.
The ICC has recently formed a committee to study the impact of franchise cricket on the international schedule. The governing body has raised concerns about increasing clashes between domestic leagues and international fixtures, prompting several cricket boards to protect their competitions.
A number of national boards have already taken steps to limit player participation in overseas leagues. Cricket boards in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan have introduced restrictions on the number of foreign T20 leagues their centrally contracted players can join each year.
Franchises Raise Concerns Over New ILT20 Recruitment Rules
Several franchise officials expressed frustration over the lack of consultation before the new rules were introduced. Team representatives argued that the mandatory nationality requirements limit their ability to select the strongest possible playing XI based purely on cricketing merit.
Until the 2025-26 season, teams were allowed to field a flexible combination of nine overseas players and two UAE players in the playing XI. Franchise owners also raised financial concerns, stating that signing mandatory players from specific countries could put additional pressure on team budgets.
ILT20 had previously reached an agreement with Cricket West Indies before the inaugural 2022 season to encourage the participation of Caribbean players. However, that arrangement did not include any mandatory quotas or fixed requirements on the number of players from a particular region.
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