R Ashwin is on the verge of making history as the first capped male Indian player to play in the Big Bash League. Four teams are reportedly chasing his services for the latter stages of the upcoming season.
Sydney Thunder, Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers, and Adelaide Strikers are all keen to sign R Ashwin. Thunder and Hurricanes are currently the frontrunners, with a deal expected to be finalized later this week.
BCCI Rules and Overseas T20 Opportunities
No male Indian player with international caps has previously played in the BBL. R Ashwin’s retirement from the IPL earlier this year has opened the door for him to play franchise cricket overseas for the first time.
Only retired Indian players are allowed by the BCCI to participate in overseas T20 leagues. Earlier this year, Dinesh Karthik played for Paarl Royals in the SA20.
In 2023, Ambati Rayudu played for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the CPL, and in January 2024, he turned out for MI Emirates in the ILT20. Robin Uthappa and Yusuf Pathan featured for Dubai Capitals in the ILT20, while Suresh Raina played for Deccan Gladiators in the Abu Dhabi T10 two years ago.
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R Ashwin’s Upcoming Schedule
R Ashwin has already committed to the first-ever ILT20 auction in the UAE, scheduled for next Tuesday. If bought, he will play in the ILT20, which now runs from December 2 to January 4.
The BBL begins on December 14, with the home-and-away portion running until January 18. The finals are set for January 20 to 25. This means R Ashwin could play three or four games at the end of the season for whichever team signs him, and participate in the finals if the team qualifies. ESPNcricinfo understands that his deal will also cover the BBL 2026-27 season.
Overseas Player Rules in the BBL
BBL clubs can field only three overseas players in their XI. Each team has already secured three players through the league’s pre-signing rules and the June overseas draft. Clubs can also sign up to four additional overseas replacement players, but only three can play at a time.
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If a team releases an international player for the SA20, R Ashwin could join as a replacement. League rules normally require replacement players to nominate themselves for the draft, which Ashwin did not do as he had not retired from IPL cricket.
However, exceptions exist for players whose circumstances have changed. Former New Zealand batter Martin Guptill joined Melbourne Renegades in 2022-23 after retiring internationally despite missing the inaugural BBL overseas draft. England star Nat Sciver-Brunt was allowed to play for Perth Scorchers in the WBBL after being cleared by the ECB.
Salary and Marketing Considerations
The team that signs R Ashwin will need to fit his salary within their overall purse, much of which may already be allocated. There could also be an additional marketing agreement with Cricket Australia that does not count toward the salary cap. Teams can go over the cap by 5 percent in a particular year with approval from the league’s technical committee, provided it is balanced over three years.
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