Legends Leagues 

Over the last few years there has been a rise in ‘legends leagues’ featuring former international players particularly in the Middle East and South Asia. As these events generally involve retired players who have not played official cricket in the preceding 24 months, they do not require an ICC sanction. While some events have been locally sanctioned by Member Boards, a number have operated outside the purview of a Member Board and therefore, deemed disapproved/unsanctioned cricket.

The participation of players in unsanctioned leagues carries significant risks, one of the biggest being the potential exclusion from future participation in official, sanctioned events.

Several of these ‘legends leagues’ have demonstrated a threat to the integrity of the game. In one instance, authorities investigated a team owner and manager following allegations of a corrupt approach to players. Links to corruptors were also identified suggesting the primary motivation of some leagues may be betting and associated fixing.

Other issues that have been encountered with ‘legends leagues’ include team composition challenges, administrative irregularities, procedural complications (including the inability to secure necessary clearances or visas), and outstanding player payments. These problems can increase the risk of exposing players to corruption.

While these leagues claim to have the potential to develop cricket and boost sports tourism, the likely risk for integrity issues may threaten not only the league’s reputation but the associated ICC Member. The inherent risks associated with such leagues underscore the importance of evaluating the potential drawbacks versus the rewards before getting involved.

It is imperative that Members continue to conduct thorough due diligence on any league proposal they receive and engage with the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) in order to protect themselves, their players and the game globally.