Major Twist: Indian stars could play in The Hundred – Here's reason behind this

T20 Leagues all over the globe are experiencing an increasing amount of viewership and an opportunity to expand business across continents. Keeping an eye on the Indian Premier League, some other cricket playing nations now have their own franchise leagues. SA20 (South Africa), ILT20 (United Arab Emirates), Major League Cricket (MLC) are among few popular T20 leagues. 

But, from the arriving season, the Indian Premier League is able to secure a particular identity. Franchise owners of IPL, have already expanded their business wings in other countries as well, though BCCI registered Indian players have restrictions for participating in other T20 leagues. 

If the England and Wales cricket board (ECB) can break this barrier and make a knot with BCCI, then the T20 franchise league can touch new heights, feels Lancashire CEO Daniel Gidney. 

Read More: WATCH: Ubaid Shah’s viral celebration sparks laughter in PSL 2025

According to a recently published report, Gidney shared his thoughts about a mutual passage so that Indian cricketers can also participate in overseas franchise leagues, It could be possible if BCCI and ECB come together for an agreement. According to him, "I think it's possible. If I was the ECB, I'd be talking about perhaps bringing the BCCI in as a minority ownership partner in the tournament as a whole. If you do that, then you are aligning interests." 

The BCCI has been really successful with protecting their brand by making sure they don't plan any T20 tournaments anywhere in the world… If I were the BCCI, then I would have to say I would need a significant incentive to relax the current policy because that has been extraordinarily successful and has grown the IPL into the massive commercial entity that it is," he added. 

Proposal for a possible bridge between BCCI and ECB 

Though Indian men's cricketers are not allowed to play any foreign club cricket, the country's women cricketers, like captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, featured in England's The Hundred and Australia's Women's Big Bash League. For the Lancashire CEO, it is the right time to welcome Indian men's cricketers to other leagues. 

He said, 'That is probably your best chance of getting (Indian) players in The Hundred. It comes down to the will and the individuals on both sides."