India’s celebrated off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin shocked the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from international cricket moments after the drawn Brisbane Test. Upon returning home to Chennai, the 38-year-old received a heartwarming welcome from fans.

Reflecting on his future, Ashwin made it clear that while his journey as an Indian cricketer has concluded, his passion for the game still remains there.

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“I am going to play for CSK and don’t be surprised if I try and aspire to play for as long as I can. I don’t think Ashwin the cricketer is done; I think Ashwin the Indian cricketer has probably called it time. That’s it,” he said.

This raises an intriguing question—can Ashwin, with his illustrious career and undiminished skill, now participate in overseas T20 leagues?

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What are the BCCI’s rules on Indian cricketers playing in overseas leagues?

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has a long-standing policy that prohibits Indian men’s cricketers from participating in foreign T20 leagues while they are still associated with Indian cricket.

This includes playing for the national team, in the IPL, or in domestic competitions governed by the BCCI.

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The policy emerged after the massive success of the Indian Premier League, launched following India’s T20 World Cup victory in 2007.

The league became a financial powerhouse, drawing foreign stars to Indian shores. To protect its market and media rights, the BCCI decided to restrict Indian players from participating in other leagues.

If an Indian cricketer wishes to play in overseas leagues as player or coach, they must retire from all forms of Indian cricket, including IPL and domestic matches.

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What does Ashwin’s retirement mean for his participation in overseas leagues?

Ashwin’s retirement from international cricket means he has taken the first step toward eligibility for foreign leagues.

However, his ongoing commitment to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL suggests he is not entirely cutting ties with the BCCI.

For Ashwin to participate in tournaments like the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia or the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), he would need to retire completely from IPL and domestic cricket.

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This was evident in the cases of former players like Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu, who retired from all BCCI-related competitions to play abroad.