Ben Stokes’ franchise cricket comeback faces ECB roadblock

Former England skipper Ben Stokes is planning to return to franchise cricket after retiring from international cricket earlier this year. The 35-year-old is in talks with a few teams from Major League Cricket (MLC) and the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He hasn't played in either league to date. Adelaide Strikers have already signed the veteran all-rounder for the upcoming season of the Big Bash League.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will still have a major say in Stokes’ involvement in different leagues despite his central contract set to expire soon. According to The Guardian, the ECB is likely to refuse to provide the NOC to Stokes for competing in the MLC or PSL. 

It was also reported that the ECB will not stand in the way of the cricketer's likely participation in the IPL. The board doesn’t give domestic players NOCs to play in any other league which can ‘overlap’ with the domestic cricket season. 

The English season begins in late April or early May with the County Championship. Vitality Blast starts towards the end of the IPL season and runs until July. It is followed by the Hundred, which is played for close to three weeks. There are also domestic ODI matches before the county season resumes and finishes in late September. 

He is currently playing for Durham and has been a part of four county matches this year. He has amassed 277 runs from seven innings at an average of over 46 and also hit three fifties. With the ball, the former England skipper has taken 19 wickets with two fifers and a best of 6 for 94 against Worcestershire. 

Be Stokes' IPL career

Stokes began his IPL career with Rising Pune Supergiants in 2017 before moving on to Rajasthan Royals. The English star played in four seasons for the Royals before heading to Chennai Super Kings for IPL 2023, where he played just two games.

Pakistan Super League could move back to its January and February window for more viewership and avoid clashing with the IPL. Major League Cricket, on the other hand, is played in June, which overlaps with the England cricket season.