BCCI Mulls Launch of New T10 Cricket League in 2024: Reports

• ByStartupStory     |    December 15, 2023

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly considering the introduction of a T10 format cricket league. The proposed league, currently in its preliminary stages, is slated for a potential launch window between September and October next year, as reported by Moneycontrol on Friday.

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah is actively guiding the development of the league’s blueprint. This initiative comes on the heels of the Indian Premier League (IPL) recently achieving Decacorn status with a staggering valuation of approximately $10.7 billion, according to a report by Brand Finance earlier this week.

Despite being in the early planning phase, the T10 league has garnered positive feedback from stakeholders and potential sponsors. The choice of a T10 format is seen as a strategic move to further enhance cricket’s popularity in the country.

Jay Shah, emphasizing the board’s commitment to meticulous planning, stated, “The launch of the T10 format cricket league is currently in its preliminary stages, and we are taking careful considerations to address various aspects, including the format itself and its potential impact on the IPL.”

The report outlines several key considerations the BCCI is grappling with as they navigate the planning process:

A) T10 vs. T20: The decision to go with the T10 format instead of the existing T20 format.

B) Age Cap: Whether the league should have an age cap for players to prevent overshadowing the popularity of the IPL.

C) Franchise Sale: Whether franchises for the new league should be sold through a separate tender process or if existing IPL franchises should have the right of first refusal.

D) Venue Selection: Whether the tournament should be played in India or have a new venue every year.

Insiders familiar with the developments stress the importance of implementing an age bracket to avoid overshadowing the IPL’s popularity and ensuring the active participation of top white-ball cricketers.

While the BCCI has not officially commented on the potential T10 league, the report suggests that cricket boards worldwide, facing limited earnings from bilateral series, see potential financial benefits in the proposed league. The revenue-sharing model being considered could aid financial stability for cricket boards.

However, concerns linger about the potential impact on the traditional 50-over format. Additionally, recent reports hint at Saudi Arabia’s interest in a substantial investment in the IPL, exploring the injection of up to $5 billion and playing a pivotal role in the league’s expansion to other nations.

As the BCCI carefully navigates these considerations, the cricketing world awaits official confirmation or statements from the board regarding the potential introduction of the T10 cricket league.

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