The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to increase the number of matches, especially at home, but at the same time ensured the reduction in the number of playing days as compared to the past.
Addressing the media after the Special General body meeting here on Monday, the Board’s acting-secretary Amitabh Chaudhary announced that in the proposed Future Tours Programme (FTP) for the next four years, the number of home matches had increased from 51 to 81 at home.
It was also mentioned that the number of match days would be reduced from 390 to 306. This would not include the 2021 ICC Champions Trophy and the 2023 World Cup.
More importantly, most of the matches, more than 50% for India in that period, would be against top teams like Australia, England and South Africa.
Increased revenue
It was stressed that more home matches would ensure an increased revenue for the Board.
With more home crowd and certainty of matches, October to December would be deemed the primary home season. The period from January to March, with cricket facing “more difficulties”, would be categorised as secondary season.
It was also stated that national cricket units would operate more under the guidance of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in the future, even while negotiating bilateral series, after the ICC Board meets in February and introduces the proposed Test and One-day League.
It was unanimously accepted by the General Body that India host Afghanistan’s first Test even though the latest Test entrant had sought to play its first Test series against Australia.
“The Afghans were scheduled to play their first Test in 2019 versus Australia but considering the historic relationship between India and Afghanistan, we decided to host their first Test,” said Mr. Choudhary.
ACB welcomes decision
The Afghanistan Cricket Board chief Atif Mashal said the decision was a big boost to their cricket. “We thank India, especially BCCI for the big opportunity given to Afghan team and Afghan cricket,” said Mr. Mashal adding “we are working on the schedule and fixtures. Soon, we will have a joint press conference.”
On the subject of the erstwhile IPL franchise Kochi Tuskers Kerala, the General Body decided to pursue the legal course and proceed to challenge the demand for compensation, ruling out the possibility of any “out of court” settlement.
Taking into account the situation in Rajasthan, following the disaffiliation of the State unit for the last four years, the General Body agreed to revoke the suspension, subject to certain conditions being fulfilled.
It was stated that the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) should pass a resolution, totally detaching itself from Lalit Modi and his affiliates.
The Rajasthan Association would also have to drop all its cases against the Board and agree that any breach of the categorical conditions would lead to an automatic suspension without any show-cause notice.
Stand on doping
As far as the request of the Government and the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) to route cricket’s anti-doping measures through the national agency, the Board stressed that it was WADA-compliant through the ICC.
Moreover, its robust anti-doping methods and the fact that the same laboratory was being used, was acknowledged by all concerned and thoroughly explained in its response.
“We go through the same procedures, same laboratories and have the same therapeutic exemptions’’, explained Mr. Chaudhary, about the Board’s reluctance to disturb an already efficient implementation of anti-doping measures.
