High time for Indians to start participating in foreign T20 leagues in wake of new era-changing ICC FTP

An almost-final draft of the ICC's latest Future Tours Programme (FTP) for men's cricket, reported by ESPNcricinfo last week, has propelled cricket into a new age. They broke the news that there will be a two-and-a-half-month window for the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the next five years. Along with that, two dedicated windows for the Big Bash League (BBL) and the Hundred will be there as well, and during all three above-mentioned competitions, not a single international fixture would be scheduled for the 12 Full Member cricketing nations.

India’s last major success at the ICC event came in 2013. That year, under MS Dhoni, the Men in Blue won the Champions Trophy by beating England in their own backyard. More importantly, they did not win a single T20 World Cup after six attempts since winning the prestigious title under the same flamboyant leadership. After a memorable triumph in South Africa, they chronologically endured failures in England, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, at home, and in the UAE. With two of their modern-day greats Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli on the wrong side of their 30s, they strive to succeed in their next try in Australia at the upcoming T20 World Cup later this year.

Let us not get into the pros and cons of the current Indian squad who seek the glory at the next ICC mega event. Let us focus on the long-term vision. As the next ICC’s FTP calendar starts in May next year, the time has arrived for the BCCI to make changes regarding their stubborn rule for their men players. Yes, their decision used to make sense, at least to a certain extent, till the latest FTP calendar reports. There was a jam-packed international calendar schedule for Team India for many years, and to manage the workload, it was the right move to protect them. But, with the latest major developments, the international fixtures are set to be reduced. Thus, the case is not going to be similar anymore.

There’s no doubt that it (IPL) has helped English cricket grow and the numbers of players who were involved in the last few years. It was something I was desperate to play. For me it’s the best tournament in the world, taking out the World Cups. Some of the match-ups you get to see in the IPL are great. As a kid growing up that is what you want to play -- fantasy cricket. Mix all the teams together what it will be like if Kohli and de Villiers play together."

Jos Buttler on BBC Podcast 'The Doosra' in May, 2020.

With the largest talent pool that India boasts of having, the BCCI must push all of them to get their better versions to make them habituated outside the subcontinent. Permitting them to play only in County cricket does not help them at all. They have been doing wonders in Test cricket all across the world anyways.

Not to forget, India’s last T20 World Cup in the UAE was not great either. In fact, for the first time in a senior men’s ICC tournament, they lost to their arch-rivals Pakistan, that too in an embarrassing manner with all ten wickets in hand. Many Pakistani players have already participated in the BBL and the Hundred and those numbers will only grow with time. The BCCI, acknowledging the future of sports and the recent trend, must not resist themselves to avoid such humiliations. By giving them allowances to play franchise cricket abroad, the board would only help them, as well as collectively while playing for the country, to get better results in the marquee events.