THE cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to have an extended 10-week window in the next international calendar to allow top cricketers from across the world to take part in the popular T20 tournament.
Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), confirmed this to Reuters and added that there are no immediate plans to add more franchises to the 10-team tournament and any future additions must not affect the quality of the product.
“Expanding the IPL further will depend on many factors like expanding the talent pool with no compromise on quality of talent, strengthening grassroots, building the right infrastructure and many other factors,” he said.
Two new franchises – Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants – joined the IPL in the 2022 edition with Gujarat ending up as the champions.
“We are in discussions with the ICC (International Cricket Council) and several other cricket boards to have an exclusive window for the IPL,” Shah was quoted as saying.
“Let me assure you that there will be a two-and-a-half-month window in the next ICC FTP (Future Tours Programme) calendar so that all top international players can participate.
“Since this tournament benefits all... we have received a positive response from the ICC and other member boards,” the official, who is the son of Indian home minister Amit Shah, added.
The IPL occupies two months in a year during which international cricket effectively halts. The league is also set to go from 74 matches per season to 94 in 2027.
The ICC is likely to take up the 2024-31 FTP calendar cycle next month.
Earlier in June, the BCCI – the world’s richest cricketing body – saw its pockets getting deeper by $6.2 billion from the sale of the IPL’s media rights for the next five years.
Shah rubbished suggestions that extending the IPL window would affect India’s commitment to international itinerary.
“The BCCI remains committed to international cricket and it's not just the marquee series like India v England or India v Australia,” Shah said.
“We want to design a comprehensive calendar where we aim to help associate nations with consistent and regular bilateral tours,” he added.
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