Top names from England, West Indies and Sri Lanka sign up for CSA T20 league, but Cricket Australia might not allow their star players

As the IPL franchises have started their operations for the new CSA T20 league, the process of approaching the players and offering them contracts has started as well. It is, however, still unclear whether a draft or an auction will take place for the signing of the players or the franchises will be allowed direct signings from the pool of players.

The former South African captain Graeme Smith, who is the commissioner of the CSA T20 league, is reportedly approaching some of the top players around the world currently and is querying if they want to be a part of the tournament.

The tournament is already grabbing a lot of eyeballs around the world because of its association with IPL franchises and there is a possibility of it becoming the second-best T20 tournament in the world with the top overseas players featuring and rubbing shoulders with an incredible pool of South African local talent.

CSA T20 league is colliding with the schedule of Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL)

It has been reported by the Times of India that around 25 players from England, Sri Lanka, and West Indies have committed themselves to play in the league, but the availability of the Australian and New Zealand players is uncertain. Since the tournament will take place at the same time as Big Bash League, the Australian board doesn’t want to give it any exposure by sending their own star players.

As per the latest reports, if the Aussie players want to feature in the CSA T20 league, the only option for them is retirement from T20 internationals, because Cricket Australia (CA) is very reluctant to allow them for an overseas league when a domestic league is going on.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) might also want their players to feature in domestic cricket during that part of the year because it will be the peak period of their domestic cricket summer.