ICC 'Concerned' About IPL? Board To Form Panel On 'Harmonisation' With Internationals

ICC is set to form a committee to align franchise cricket with the international calendar, a decision taken on the sidelines of the IPL 2026 final.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has said it will form a committee to ‘assess the harmonisation of franchise cricket’ with the international calendar while staying ‘within the current structure’ in a statement released on Monday, less than 24 hours after the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad.

On the sidelines of the marquee match, the ICC conducted a board meeting in the city. In it, several decisions were taken, from the banning of Cricket Canada to a change in the schedule of the Women’s calendar and the beginning of the trial for using the pink ball in Tests affected by bad light.

But for the first time in memory, the ICC said its board expressed concern about the impact of the franchise cricket calendar on the internationals.

“The International Cricket Council (ICC) concluded its Board meetings in Ahmedabad, India, on Sunday, and announced a series of decisions aimed at strengthening governance, supporting women’s cricket, enhancing global competition structures, and fostering innovation in the game," the board statement said.

The final point of the long statement read, “The Board expressed concern regarding the growing expanse of franchise cricket and resolved to form a committee to assess harmonisation of franchise cricket with international calendar within the current structure."

Since IPL began in 2008, T20 franchise cricket has become a separate sport in itself, with all member ICC nations coming up with their own iterations of a private or the national board-run tournament. Some of these leagues pay more for lesser effort than international cricket, causing national boards to lose out in the race for the players’ availability and even struggle to take some stars to World Cups.

Jay Shah, the ICC chairman and the former secretary of the BCCI, who was present at the Narendra Modi Stadium for the IPL 2026 final, said: “Our discussions in Ahmedabad have reinforced the ICC’s commitment to governance, administration, and the growth of cricket globally. From women’s cricket and emerging nations to the management of franchise competitions, today’s discussions and decisions aim to ensure that cricket remains fair, competitive, and exciting for fans worldwide."

This comes amid the BCCI’s planning to expand the IPL further, increasing the total number of matches to over 90 from the current 74.

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