BCCI pushes for scheduling breaks in next FTP cycle, lays out 2027 World Cup roadmap

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has asked the FTP (Future Tour Programme) managers to get the best plans for the next cycle in a way that there would be enough time for the players to get acclimatized to the overseas conditions, especially for their trips to the SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries. 

The FTP workshop is going to be scheduled on September 22 and 23 in Dubai. The operational teams from all the boards are expected to attend. The board will keep these major points for scheduling of the international games for the upcoming 2027-31 cycle.

BCCI wants rest and acclimatisation breaks before every SENA tour from the next FTP cycle

Interestingly, the representatives of the top eight associate nations have been invited for the meeting, which shows India’s wish to keep games against those sides as well. The BCCI managers will need to work on the gaps for their home and away series along with the ICC events.

“The challenge we are facing is that there are too many matches in the year, and that is why, in the next FTP, we will do certain things and take certain measures.” The BCCI secretary, Devajit Saikia, said this after their review meeting.

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India will host England for five Tests in Jan 2028 and travel to Australia at the end of the year. They will have return tours to the country in 2029 and 2031. In between, they have the T20 World Cup 2028, the Champions Trophy 2029, the T20 World Cup 2030, and the ODI World Cup 2031.  

“We have instructed our FTP people, who will be meeting very soon at various international forums, that our FTP should be scheduled in such a way that there is proper rest for the players, as well as some kind of acclimatisation or friendly matches before any major series in SENA countries.” Saikia addressed.

BCCI eyes more multi-team series and warm-up games to prep team India for 2027

It has also been informed that India would lean towards multi-nation series more rather than bilateral series. Since the end of the 2011 ODI WC, they have played only four multi-nation series, three of which were in ODIs, while the Nidahas Trophy, featuring Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, was in 2018.

In the 50-over format, India had one in Australia in 2011/12, with Sri Lanka being the third side; another in 2013, involving Sri Lanka and the hosts West Indies, while the third tri-series was in 2014/15, featuring Australia and England.

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The issue is that the valuation of the non-India games is unlikely to be lucrative. But the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is going to make arrangements for the new FTP in the next cycle.