"Why should BCCI make allowances for South African cricket?" - Aakash Chopra feels Indian players won't feature in CSA league despite IPL connection

Former batter Aakash Chopra reckons that contracted Indian players will not feature in Cricket South Africa (CSA)'s upcoming T20 league despite the prominent IPL connection.

In a rather bizarre development, bids for all six teams in CSA's T20 league have been won by IPL franchise owners.

Reliance Industries Limited, Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited, Royals Sports Group, JSW Sports, Sun TV and RPSG Sports Private Limited are the six IPL franchise owners that have won the bids.

Following the revelation, fans have been wondering whether Indian players who are currently contracted with the BCCI will be allowed to feature in the Proteas' T20 competition.

Chopra doesn't think so. In a Q&A session on his YouTube channel, he said while responding to a query on the topic:

"All the six CSA franchises are owned by Indians, but personally I feel the BCCI will not allow that to happen. They will not let the contracted players go. It is understandable. Why should the BCCI make allowances for South African cricket?"

Chopra added:

"If the BCCI starts allowing players to take part in foreign leagues, franchises might ask players to become freelancers, who can play for them for 5-6 months in various leagues that they own apart from IPL.”

Among the six CSA T20 franchise owners, Reliance Industries Limited owns Mumbai Indians, the IPL's most successful team, while Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd., as the name suggests, is the owner of the CSK franchise.

---

"Plan according to ICC events" - Chopra on whether youngsters should get more chances after T20 World Cup

During the Q&A session, Chopra was also asked whether India should start grooming youngsters for the next T20 World Cup after the conclusion of this year's edition in Australia.

The 44-year-old replied that it all depends on the thought process of the team and the selectors. He explained:

"You have to plan according to ICC events. After the T20 World Cup, if you want to look away from seniors, you might want to start trying from now, as the next T20 World Cup is in 2024. Because most of them (in the next World Cup squad) will be youngsters, so you might want to go that way."

India's top two T20I batters, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, are 35 and 33 respectively. It remains to be seen how long the think tank will persist with them after this year's 20-over World Cup in Australia.