IPL lags behind The Hundred, SA20 in player welfare, says global players body

NEW DELHI: The Indian Premier League (IPL), widely regarded as the world's richest T20 tournament and a financial powerhouse that inspired a wave of franchise cricket leagues globally, still has significant room for improvement when it comes to players' rights and welfare, according to an assessment by the global players body.

The World Cricketers' Association (WCA) released its rankings on Thursday, placing the IPL third out of 10 leagues with a score of 62.6. England's The Hundred topped the list with a score of 75.2, followed by South Africa's SA20 at 68.

Where IPL scores high — and where it falls short

While the IPL received maximum points in categories such as average payment and payment reliability, it scored poorly in areas including "right to organise" and "dispute resolutions," according to the WCA assessment.

Devajit Saikia, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which runs the IPL, was not immediately available for comment on the rankings.

WCA calls for better player protections amid league expansion

WCA Chief Executive Tom Moffat said on Thursday that while cricket had benefited from the increasing number of domestic events in recent years, it was important to ensure players were taken care of.

"The growth of the domestic leagues landscape has been tremendous for cricket, but it is vital that players' rights and welfare remain at the forefront as the game continues to evolve."

The WCA rankings assessed 10 domestic T20 leagues around the world on multiple parameters related to player welfare, payment structures, dispute resolution mechanisms, and the right of players to organise collectively. The assessment highlighted that even as the IPL continues to dominate as a commercial enterprise, other leagues have set higher benchmarks in safeguarding the interests of cricketers.

The Hundred, England's flagship 100-ball competition, led the rankings with its comprehensive player welfare provisions, while South Africa's SA20, a relatively newer entrant in the franchise cricket landscape, also outperformed the IPL in the overall assessment.

The findings underscore growing calls within the cricketing community for franchise leagues to match their financial success with equally robust frameworks for protecting players' rights and ensuring fair treatment across the board.