MUMBAI: Yuvraj Singh’s decision to retire from ALL forms of BCCI controlled cricket has, as expected, set the stage for the former Indian all-rounder to seek the board’s permission to play in foreign Twenty20 leagues.
“He wrote to the board yesterday (Monday). I don’t see an issue in him getting the nod to play in overseas leagues now that he has retired from international cricket and IPL,” a BCCI source told PTI on Tuesday.
A senior BCCI official told IANS: “A couple of T20 leagues are interested to have him participate in their tournaments and Yuvraj has asked for BCCI’s nod before moving with the idea of playing in T20 leagues as a freelance cricketer.”
Last week, Yuvraj had said that he was looking forward to play in foreign T20 leagues.
“I want to play T20 cricket. At this age I can manage to play some kind of fun cricket. I want to go and enjoy my life. It’s been too stressful just thinking about my international career, performing and big tournaments like the IPL,” said the 37-year-old.
The BCCI has barred active players from taking part in overseas T20 leagues and that is the main reason Yuvraj retired to make himself available for competitions around the world.
Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan, who had retired from international cricket, were recently allowed to be part of the T10 League in the UAE.
Last month, Irfan Pathan became the first Indian player to be included in the Caribbean Premier League draft though he remains an active first-class player and did not take prior permission from the BCCI.
The BCCI had also withdrawn his brother Yusuf’s NOC for participation in a Hong Kong T20 tournament two years ago.
With a career that spanned over 304 ODIs, 58 T20s and 40 Tests, Yuvraj imprinted his place in the echelons of cricket as a player who could pretty much win matches for his side either through his electric fielding, deceiving bowling or fierce batting.
