The Indian Premier League holds the third spot in the latest WCA assessment, following The Hundred and SA20.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been placed third among the world’s leading men’s domestic T20 leagues in the latest assessment by the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA). England’s The Hundred and South Africa’s SA20 secured the top two positions in the updated Leagues Hub released this week.
The WCA explained that each league was scored out of 100 using weighted criteria focused on player conditions, protections, and professional standards. The rankings were based on inputs from players, agents, and player associations, along with survey responses and benefit data.
Despite finishing third, the IPL received top scores for average player salaries and payment reliability, highlighting its financial dominance in global franchise cricket. However, its overall rating was lowered due to comparatively weaker scores in areas related to player rights and protections.
According to the WCA, the updated Leagues Hub aims to establish a clearer global benchmark as franchise cricket continues to expand. The initiative is intended to improve transparency, support better career decisions for players, and encourage higher professional standards across leagues.
Latest WCA Rankings:
- The Hundred — 75.2
- SA20 — 68.0
- Indian Premier League — 62.6
- Big Bash League — 62.5
- Pakistan Super League — 48.0
- Major League Cricket — 43.0
- International League T20 — 39.1
- Caribbean Premier League — 38.9
- Abu Dhabi T10 — 30.1
- Bangladesh Premier League — 22.6
WCA chief executive Tom Moffat noted that while the rise of domestic leagues has significantly benefited cricket, there is still scope for improvement. He emphasized that the goal is not to criticize leagues but to promote stronger standards and better protections for everyone involved.
Tom Moffat stated that the revised framework was introduced due to the lack of enforceable global standards in several key areas that matter to players and their representatives. He explained that in the absence of such regulations, the updated Leagues Hub offers a more refined and consolidated benchmark reflecting current practices.
He further mentioned that the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) has already approached all leagues following the release of the latest rankings. According to him, each league has been invited to collaborate in meeting best-practice standards and to help further enhance the professionalism and growth of the sport. More