The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has called for collaboration among franchise leagues to address the global scheduling crisis in cricket. Pete Russell, CPL’s CEO, believes that overlaps between leagues are “a nonsense” and that regular meetings should be held to minimize clashes.
Russell highlighted the recent avoidance of a clash with the Hundred as an example of successful collaboration. He emphasized that it is detrimental to players and leagues when star players have to rush between tournaments.
The CPL’s stance is supported by the precedent set by the ILT20 and PSL, which negotiated to manage potential clashes. However, the scheduling landscape remains complex, with multiple leagues running simultaneously in early 2024 and the ICC Champions Trophy expected to further complicate matters in 2025.
The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) has also expressed support for global scheduling windows to minimize overlap between franchise leagues and international cricket. A recent FICA player survey revealed that 84% of respondents support introducing windows.
Russell believes that a forum for franchise league owners and administrators to discuss scheduling is essential. He pointed to the recent release of Major League Cricket’s 2024 fixture list, which overlaps with the Hundred, as evidence of a lack of “joined-up thinking.”
Russell also highlighted the perverse incentives that emerged for players earlier this year, where players could earn more money by leaving a tournament before the finals to join another league. He believes that such situations should be addressed.
The CPL’s call for collaboration and the support from FICA and players indicate a growing recognition of the need for a coordinated approach to scheduling in cricket. By working together, leagues and administrators can ensure that the sport’s global calendar is optimized for the benefit of players, fans, and the game itself.
