The International Cricket Council (ICC) has sanctioned a limit of four international players (whether current or retired) in all new T20 competitions, with the remaining seven spots available to local players (including Associate players).

Cricket's top executives debated the new rule for two days in Durban before voting to adopt it on Thursday, the final day of the ICC's annual general meeting, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Existing events that allow more than four international players in the playing XI, including as the International League T20 in the United Arab Emirates, Major League Cricket in the United States, and Canada's Global T20, would not be affected by the regulation at first. However, those leagues will have a decent amount of time to adjust to the four-player cap.

Tuesday's meeting of the ICC's chief executives committee resulted in an 8-6 vote against the original working group proposal to limit expatriate players to four and require a minimum of four local players in all divisions. However, the CEC continued discussions and reconvened on Wednesday to discuss an amended recommendation (redrawn by the working group) through which a consensus was reached that all new T20 leagues can only allow four overseas players per team, but could list Associate players as locals, which would increase their exposure and promote cricket's growth in smaller nations.

At its Thursday meeting, the ICC Board endorsed the CEC's recommendation. Cricket Canada and the Emirates Cricket Board are currently represented at the CEC, which consists of 12 Full Members and three Associate Members (the Afghanistan Cricket Board was not represented at this CEC). On Tuesday, it is believed that all three Associate members voted against the regulation that would have required a minimum of four local players and a maximum of four foreign players in the XI of T20 leagues.

BCCI, NZC, the BCB, SLC, and Zimbabwe Cricket voted against the proposal alongside the Associates. In the meantime, the PCB, CWI, Cricket Australia, the ECB, and Cricket Ireland voted in favour of the regulation.