IPL 2025: Foreign cricket boards should boycott Indian Premier League, says Inzamam-Ul-Haq

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IPL 2025: Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has called on foreign cricket boards to boycott the Indian Premier League (IPL) in response to the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) policy of not allowing Indian male cricketers to participate in overseas franchise T20 leagues.

The veteran cricketer voiced his opinion during an appearance on a Pakistani news channel, urging international cricket boards to take a united stand against the BCCI's approach.

"Keep the Champions Trophy aside, you look at the IPL where all the top players from around the world take part. But Indian players don't go to play in other leagues. Hence, all the boards should stop sending their players to the IPL. If you don't release your players for any league, then shouldn't other boards take a stance?" Inzamam stated.

While Indian women's cricketers, including Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Harmanpreet Kaur, have participated in overseas leagues such as the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), The Hundred, and the Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), the BCCI has maintained a strict policy that prevents male Indian cricketers from featuring in international T20 franchise tournaments.

Male players can only compete in such leagues after retirement, as seen with former Indian cricketers like Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan, who played in leagues such as Global T20 Canada and the Lanka Premier League after their international careers ended. Recently, Dinesh Karthik joined the Paarl Royals in South Africa's SA20 after announcing his retirement.

The timing of Inzamam's remarks comes just days ahead of the 2025 IPL season, which kicks off on March 22, with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Eden Gardens. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to run from April 11 to May 18, creating a direct clash with the IPL.

Inzamam's suggestion of a collective boycott of the IPL by foreign boards is likely to spark debate in the cricketing world. The IPL remains the most lucrative T20 league, attracting the best talent from across the globe. However, the argument over player availability and fair participation in global franchise cricket continues to be a contentious issue.