Former head coach of India Ravi Shastri believes that more Indian players ought to be allowed to play in other leagues since doing so will expose young cricketers to international stars and expand their horizons.
The BCCI now prohibits active Indian players from participating in international T20 leagues. Only after retiring from all domestic and international cricket competitions and receiving a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the board can Indian cricketers play overseas.
Ravichandran Ashwin, a seasoned off-spinner, just signed with the Sydney Thunder for the upcoming season, becoming the first well-known Indian cricketer to join the BBL.
“India is a massive country, not everyone gets an opportunity to play, not everyone can make it. So why stop a guy (from playing in Big Bash League) if he can’t make it to the Test side, get a level C or level D contract?” Shastri said on the Willow Talk podcast.
“That exposure will help him when he comes back like the IPL has helped so many young players as they rub shoulders with top class players,” he added.
In addition to sharing the dressing room with a variety of international cricketers, the 63-year-old, who coached India in 2017 and 2021, believes the players will gain valuable knowledge from the game’s legends, who might also be on the coaching staff.
“They learn to handle pressure. Additionally, they get to rub shoulders with big international stars like (Ricky) Ponting and (Stephen) Fleming and international players,” he added.
“It’s an education – and for me, there’s no better education than going overseas. That exposure is terrific, not just in cricketing terms but in understanding different cultures and methods. You learn so many things – a West Indian training method will be different from an Australian one,” he added.
