New Delhi, April 3 – Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer has raised concerns about national boards restricting overseas all-rounders in franchise leagues, citing Australian all-rounder Cameron Green's lack of bowling as a key example in the ongoing 2026 Indian Premier League.
Green, who was signed for ₹25.20 crore for his all-round abilities, has yet to bowl in the tournament, including in the opening match against Mumbai Indians (MI), where his team conceded a massive 221 runs, and their second match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), where they conceded 226 runs. This limited role has sparked debate about team balance and utilization.
Jaffer took to X to express his opinion, emphasizing that franchises should have full control over how players are used once they are part of a privately run competition.
"Cameron Green not bowling is unfair for KKR. Once you are playing in a private league, it shouldn't be your country that decides what you can and cannot do during that league. If that's the case, you might as well not play. Teams pay huge amounts to acquire players with certain skill sets, and not using one of those skill sets, not because of injury, but because of workload management, is unfair to the franchise," he wrote.
Earlier, after the Mumbai match, captain Ajinkya Rahane suggested that decisions regarding Green's bowling were influenced by Cricket Australia, indicating that the matter was not entirely in the team's control.
Cricket Australia later confirmed that Green's workload is being carefully managed due to a lower back concern, with the franchise reportedly informed about the restriction before the tournament.
Despite not bowling in matches so far, Green has been seen bowling during practice sessions, hinting at a possible return to full all-round duties as his recovery progresses.
Green's batting performance has also been below par in the ongoing season. He scored just 18 runs in KKR's first match against Mumbai and got run out at a crucial time against SRH after scoring only two runs. Due to his poor batting, KKR has lost both matches and currently sits at ninth position in the points table.
