/betbarter/media/agency_attachments/3YXcMKaocLoKtpo5Mw2o.png)
/betbarter/media/post_banners/aKyi74zff9hdIgFgVNrq.png)
MS Dhoni (Image source- Twitter)
The Indian T20 League franchises from Mumbai, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Chennai, Rajasthan, and Delhi now own the South Africa T20 teams from Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha (previously known as Port Elizabeth), Johannesburg, Paarl, and Pretoria, respectively.
The Indian cricket board, however, would not allow any Indian player, contractual or retired, who is currently playing in the Indian T20 League, to participate in the two upcoming T20 tournaments in South Africa and the UAE. In these foreign leagues, none of the players would be permitted to serve as a mentor either.
This implies that Chennai cannot even utilise their star player MS Dhoni as a mentor for its squad in the SA T20 League because he is still playing for them in the Indian T20 League.
"It’s clear, no Indian player including domestic players can take part in any other league until he is retired from all forms of the game. If any player wants to take part in these upcoming leagues he can only do so when he cuts off all ties with the BCCI," a BCCI official told The Indian Express.
When asked if a player like Dhoni can be part of such a league as a mentor or as a coach, the BCCI official said, "Then he can’t play IPL for CSK. He has to retire here first."
Former Australian captain Adam Gilchrist recently sparked outrage by questioning why Indians are not permitted to play in other competitions. "I’m not criticising the IPL, but why won’t Indian players come and play in the Big Bash league? I’ve never had an open and honest answer: Why are some leagues accessing every player in the world? No Indian player plays in any other T20 league," he had said.
Dinesh Karthik watch the Caribbean Premier League
Dinesh Karthik was forced to give an apology in 2019 after breaking a restriction in his central contract by watching a Caribbean Premier League match from the dressing room of Trinbago Knight Riders. Karthik should have obtained permission from the BCCI before attending the match, according to the central contract.