The International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering stricter regulations for T20 franchise leagues across the world, a move that could significantly change the way several competitions operate.

According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the ICC’s franchise leagues review group has proposed a series of changes covering overseas player limits, sponsorship agreements, league approvals and anti-corruption measures.

The recommendations are expected to be discussed by cricket board presidents and chief executives during the ICC’s quarterly meetings in Bali this weekend.

If approved, the proposals could have a major impact on competitions such as the UAE’s International League T20 (ILT20) and Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States.

Both leagues currently enjoy certain exemptions from the ICC’s overseas player restrictions. However, the proposed changes could bring them under stricter regulations and increase the governing body’s control over franchise cricket.

The ICC review group has proposed limiting the number of overseas players in a franchise team’s playing XI to four.

This could particularly affect ILT20 and MLC, which were granted exemptions when the ICC introduced its player-capping regulations in 2023.

ILT20 currently allows teams to field up to nine overseas players in their playing XI, including at least one player from an Associate Member nation.

Meanwhile, MLC permits up to six overseas players in its playing XI. If the ICC proposal is approved, both competitions would have to make significant changes to their team combinations.

The move could also increase opportunities for locally developed cricketers in the UAE and the United States. However, it may also affect the competitive balance and commercial appeal of the two leagues, which have attracted several international stars.

Five of the six ILT20 franchises have ownership connections with IPL or WPL teams. Similarly, four MLC franchises are linked to IPL ownership groups.

A reduction in overseas player numbers could therefore affect the squad-building strategies of several franchise groups operating across different T20 leagues.

However, competitions organised by Associate Members require additional approval from the ICC.

The review group wants to expand the governing body’s authority to examine or audit sanctions granted by Full Member boards.

Under the proposed system, the ICC could intervene if a cricket board fails to meet its responsibilities while approving a franchise competition.

The governing body could also reject an application or withdraw an existing sanction if serious integrity concerns emerge.

The review group believes that clearer and more consistent conditions are needed before a league receives approval.

The report stated: “At the moment, the Regulations do not provide any detailed conditions which must be satisfied by a domestic league and different approaches are therefore taken in the various Member territories.”

It added that a more detailed framework should establish the requirements a franchise league must meet before receiving domestic sanction.

The proposal aims to restrict partnerships that could facilitate betting activities in countries where gambling is prohibited.

The group believes such sponsorships could expose cricket boards and host countries to the risks associated with illegal betting and corruption.

The recommendations state that these partnerships could create ethical and governance concerns for the sport.

The review group has argued that stronger safeguards are necessary to protect the integrity of cricket as franchise competitions continue to expand globally.

This would become a condition for receiving official sanction. For competitions considered to carry a higher corruption risk, the ICC’s ACU could be directly involved in monitoring activities.

The cost of such services would be covered by the league organisers on a not-for-profit basis. However, if a competition cannot establish adequate anti-corruption safeguards, its application could be rejected.

The review group has also proposed introducing a sanctioning fee for franchise leagues. The revenue generated through these fees could help fund background checks, due diligence procedures and corruption investigations.

Currently, these payments are negotiated separately between the respective cricket boards and league organisers.

This system has occasionally resulted in disagreements. The group has suggested considering a uniform payment structure, potentially based on a fixed percentage, across different leagues and players.

Such a system could bring greater consistency to financial arrangements between franchise competitions and national cricket boards.

The group has called for further discussions on how these competitions should be regulated. Another issue under consideration is whether individual ICC members should face restrictions on the number of franchise leagues they can host.

The review group believes that the rapid growth of T20 competitions should not come at the expense of international cricket.

It has highlighted the importance of protecting international matches as a major part of the sport’s development and global reach.

Other members include:

The proposals are not yet confirmed regulations. If approved, they could bring major changes to the global T20 franchise circuit, particularly for competitions such as ILT20 and MLC.

From overseas player limits and sponsorship deals to anti-corruption monitoring, the ICC is looking to establish a stricter framework as franchise cricket continues to expand around the world.