Global T20 Franchise Leagues: Beyond the IPL

The Indian Premier League's commercial success spawned a global T20 franchise boom. By 2024, major T20 leagues operating independently of or linked to national boards included the PSL (Pakistan), SA20 (South Africa), ILT20 (UAE), BBL (Australia), CPL (Caribbean), The Hundred (England), MLC (USA), and LPL (Sri Lanka). Each league competes for player availability windows and overseas talent, creating a new ecosystem where franchise cricket exists parallel to international cricket.

SA20: South Africa

The SA20 launched in January 2023 as South Africa's top T20 franchise competition, with six franchises linked to IPL teams — Sunrisers Eastern Cape (Sunrisers Hyderabad), MI Cape Town (Mumbai Indians), Pretoria Capitals, Paarl Royals, Joburg Super Kings, and Durbanite Wolves. The IPL linkage brought significant investment and global player networks, and the SA20's first two seasons were commercially successful. The competition is shown on streaming platforms globally.

ILT20: UAE

The ILT20 (International League T20) began in January 2023, using the UAE as a cricket hub for international talent. Six franchises, several owned by IPL entities, feature a mix of overseas stars and UAE-based players. The UAE's winter climate makes it ideal for cricket during the January window, and the league has attracted top T20 players from around the world. The ILT20 is part of a broader UAE strategy to develop cricket as an entertainment and sports tourism draw.

The Competition for Players

Multiple overlapping T20 franchise windows have created competition for the world's best players. A player like Sam Curran or Sunil Narine might be available for the IPL (April-May), SA20 (January), ILT20 (January-February), MLC (July), and CPL (August-September). National boards must negotiate with franchise leagues for player availability, and some players — particularly from Associate nations without major bilateral schedules — have chosen franchise cricket over international cricket entirely.