The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has imposed a ban on England players participating in overseas T20 leagues during their domestic season, with the Indian Premier League (IPL) being the only exception. The decision, aimed at protecting the quality and integrity of English domestic cricket, will restrict players from taking part in global tournaments such as the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the Sri Lanka Premier League.

The move, first reported by The Telegraph, clarifies that English players will not be granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to participate in tournaments that overlap with key domestic competitions like the Vitality Blast and The Hundred.

Impact on PSL and Other Leagues

The decision is expected to directly affect the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which will clash with IPL 2025. As Pakistan is set to host the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in February-March, the PSL has been moved to mid-March, overlapping with the IPL 2025, which starts on March 14. English players will now have to prioritize domestic cricket and may miss the PSL entirely, reducing the number of foreign stars in the league.

IPL: The Exception to the Rule

Despite the ban on other leagues, the ECB has confirmed full player availability for the next three editions of the IPL. This decision underscores the IPL’s significance in world cricket, as it continues to attract top players from around the globe.

ECB’s Statement on the Policy

The ECB’s chief executive, Richard Gould, explained the reasoning behind the new policy, emphasizing the need to protect the integrity of the domestic game. “We need to protect the strength of our competitions in England and Wales. This policy gives clarity to players and counties around our approach to issuing No Objection Certificates. It strikes the right balance between supporting players who want to take up opportunities while also ensuring we don’t undermine our own ECB competitions.”

He also noted that players will no longer be allowed to switch tournaments after elimination from one competition, a practice known as "double-dipping."