The cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) has reportedly got an extended two-and-a-half-month window in the latest ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP).
According to a report in the ESPNcricinfo, it has accessed a near-final draft of the latest ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP), which lays out the international cricket schedule of the 12 Full Members in the 2023-27 cycle. Notably, the current FTP also consists of two ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycles besides a host of ICC events and several bilateral series.
As per the report, the latest FTP draft grants an extended two-and-a-half-month window to the IPL as very few international games will be played during that period.
Prior to this, the lucrative league had a window between the last week of March to the first week however, the latest FTP drafts witnesses a two-week expansion to the window.
Earlier, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah had had said that they were in talks with the ICC and other member boards for having an exclusive window for the IPL. He had also assured to have a two-and-half-month window for the cash-rich league.
“We are in discussions with the ICC (International Cricket Council) and several other cricket boards to have an exclusive window for the IPL. 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,” Shah had said.
Moreover, as the IPL in now a ten-team affair with the addition of two new teams — Gujarat and Lucknow, a total of 74 games are being played in the tournament currently which is expected to see a rise from the next season. From the 2025 and 2026 seasons, 84 games are expected to be played in the IPL and in the 2027 season, a maximum of 94 matches are expected to be played.
As per the same report, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) have also received a seperate window for conduction of the respective leagues — The Hundred and the Big Bash League (BBL).
CA will have the entire January clear of internation games to allow their players to take part in the BBL.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has also left windows open for the PSL, which is set to be played in February-March (2023), January-February (2024) and December-January (2026-27).
The ESPNcricinfo report further state that the “number of tours in this draft of the FTP are red-circled” which indicates that things have not been fully finalized as of now.
The final draft is likely to be out after the AGM of the ICC on July 25 and 26 in Birmingham.