De Villiers Urges BCCI to Allow Indian Players in SA20

New Delhi : South African cricket legend AB de Villiers has expressed his hope that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will allow active Indian players to participate in the SA20 league in the future. Currently, the BCCI bars its contracted players from competing in overseas leagues, with the exception of those who have retired from domestic and international cricket.

Dinesh Karthik will make history as the first Indian player to feature in SA20, following his retirement last year. De Villiers believes this trend should evolve to include active Indian cricketers.

“I would love to see more Indian players involved. It’s fantastic to have Dinesh Karthik this year, and I hope the BCCI allows more Indian players to join the SA20 in the future,” said de Villiers in a media interaction ahead of the league’s third edition, set to begin on January 9.

However, de Villiers acknowledged that the BCCI is unlikely to alter its policy soon. He emphasized the importance of attracting top overseas talent to strengthen the league.

“The IPL has shown how having the best international and Indian players creates a great spectacle. SA20 must keep pushing to bring in the best overseas talent to stay competitive,” he added.

De Villiers also shared his thoughts on the IPL’s controversial impact player rule, which has been extended until 2027. He voiced skepticism about introducing the rule in SA20, citing its impact on all-rounders and team dynamics.

“I’ve never been a fan of the impact player rule. It looks exciting from the outside but complicates the game and adds pressure on all-rounders. While SA20 is open to innovations, I’m unsure if this rule would benefit the league,” he said.