Former Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle and ex-England all-rounder Samit Patel have been barred from playing in the T20 Blast 2026 after featuring in the World Legends Pro T20 League held in Goa during January-February.
The ECB blocked both veterans because the tournament was not sanctioned by the BCCI, making it ‘disapproved cricket’ under county regulations.
ECB Regulations Enforce 12-Month Ineligibility
ECB regulations clearly state that players who feature in “disapproved cricket” cannot play county cricket for 12 months from the season’s start. The World Legends Pro T20 League falls under this category because the host board, the BCCI, did not sanction the tournament.
Consequently, both Siddle and Patel became ineligible for the T20 Blast 2026, which runs from May 26 to July 18.
Siddle’s Nottinghamshire Deal Collapses
The 41-year-old Siddle was set to represent Nottinghamshire as an overseas player in the Blast. However, the county confirmed on Tuesday, April 21, that his deal has collapsed due to “personal circumstances.”
Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire’s director of cricket, expressed disappointment. “We’re naturally disappointed that Peter won’t be able to join us this summer, as we were looking forward to having a player of his calibre and experience. We’ll now focus our efforts on securing the services of a replacement,” Newell stated.
Patel Ends Remarkable Blast Streak
Patel, 41, has been out of contract since leaving Derbyshire at the end of the 2025 Blast season. He had been actively seeking a county but confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that he has accepted the ECB’s directive.
Notably, Patel and Ravi Bopara are the only two players who featured in every T20 Blast edition since its inception in 2003. However, neither will play in 2026. Bopara retired last month to focus on coaching and media commitments.
Somerset enter as defending champions, having lifted their third title last year.
