BCCI grants NOCs to active players for Hong Kong Sixes, raising questions about format restrictions
The BCCI has granted NOCs to active IPL players for the Hong Kong Sixes, marking a shift from its previous stance on white-ball competitions.
Cricket Hong Kong has announced an Indian team comprising active IPL players Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya, Nitish Rana, T Natarajan, Rahul Tewatia and Shashank Singh for the Hong Kong Sixes competition from October 30 to November 1. The announcement marks a departure from the BCCI's stated position that current players should not participate in white-ball competitions that could potentially rival the IPL.
The Hong Kong Sixes is a six-a-side, six-overs-per-side tournament that began as a popular exhibition event in the 1990s. Over the years, the BCCI has refused to grant NOCs to players from competing in short white-ball formats like The Hundred and T10 events.
The announcement has led to raised eyebrows within the IPL ecosystem. One franchise official questioned what would happen if more competitions tweaked format structures to gain access to active Indian players. The BCCI has been approached for comment on whether NOCs were sought and granted.
CricHubb Take
The BCCI's decision to allow active players in the Hong Kong Sixes could open the door for other short-format competitions to seek similar access. The six-over structure may have made this acceptable, but the precedent has been set.