Lok Sabha Question No. 145 (STARRED), answered on 2018-12-20
Subject: Participation of Indian Players in International Sports Leagues
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: HARI OM PANDEY

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 145 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2018

Participation of Indian Players in International Sports Leagues

*145. SHRI HARI OM PANDAY DR. RATNA DE (NAG)

Will the Minister of YOUTH   AFFAIRS  AND  SPORTS  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)  have  any  guidelines  or  norms  regarding  participation  of  Indian players in foreign sports leagues, especially in cricket;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the details of permission given to the cricketers for the same during the last three years;
- (c)  whether the Government has any guidelines for giving permission to the  current  players  for  participating  in  such  sports  leagues  during  the period when there are no international tournaments scheduled and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  the  details  of  norms  to  recognise  new  international  sports  leagues, especially those in which Pakistani players are participating, for allowing participation of Indian cricketers?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (RETD.))

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 145 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2018 REGARDING  'PARTICIPATION  OF  INDIAN  PLAYERS  IN  INTERNATIONAL SPORTS LEAGUES' BY SHRI HARI OM PANDAY AND DR. RATNA DE (NAG),

HON'BLE MEMBERS OF LOK SABHA (a) to (d) Sports leagues, including those of cricket, are professionally managed private entities wherein teams of franchisees participate. Since there is no participation of National Team, the Government does not have any  direct  involvement  in  such  leagues.  Therefore,  the  Government doesn't have  any  norms/guidelines  regarding  participation  of Indian players  in  such  leagues,  especially  in  cricket,  or  recognition  of  any international sports league. Insofar  as  the  Board  of  Control  for  Cricket  in  India  (BCCI)  is concerned, they have informed that as per their guidelines, the registered men players of BCCI are allowed to participate only in Multi-day and Oneday  foreign  tournaments  and  leagues  approved  by  the  International Cricket Council (ICC) and not in foreign T20 tournaments. Indian women cricketers  are  allowed  to  also  participate  in  foreign  T20  leagues  in addition to the above tournaments. BCCI have informed that permission has been granted to Shri Ishant Sharma, Shri Cheteshwar Pujara, Shri R. Ashwin and Shri Murali Vijay for United Kingdom (UK) County Cricket and Ms Harmanpreet Kaur and Ms Smriti  Mandhana  for  Kia  League  in  UK  and  Big  Bash  T20  League  in Australia. BCCI have, further informed that recognition and approval of foreign leagues is done by the ICC and BCCI adheres to the guidelines mentioned above.

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