India set to play 158 internationals in 2019-23 cycle

The highlight of the five-year programme proposed by the BCCI is that it has reserved the April-May block open for IPL.

The home internationals break up for the four year cycle is 19 Test matches, 38 ODIs and 28 Twenty20 matches; the away schedule reads 18 Test matches, 29 ODIs and 26 Twenty20 matches.

In the revised Future Tours Programme (FTP) for 2019-20 to 2022-23, the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Operations Team has scheduled 158 bilateral international matches (85 home and 73 away) consisting of 37 Test matches, 67 ODIs and 54 Twenty20 matches.

This programme will be presented at the BCCI’s Special General Body Meeting (SGM) to be held in New Delhi on Monday.

Read: BCCI set to debate new FTP, Kochi Tuskers compensation

The home internationals break up for the four year cycle is 19 Test matches, 38 ODIs and 28 Twenty20 matches; the away schedule reads 18 Test matches, 29 ODIs and 26 Twenty20 matches.

The programme — following the approval of the Indian cricket team — was discussed at the informal ICC Chief Executives’ meet in Singapore on December 7 and 8.

Although the ICC doesn’t have a direct say in the scheduling of any bilateral series among full member countries, it acts as a facilitator for the members to meet and reach an agreement on the FTP.

The ICC then nominates match referees and umpires for the international matches.

But before India begins its 2019-20 four year FTP, the BCCI has proposed a home series against South Africa in October-November 2018, involving three Test matches, five ODIs and one Twenty20 match. This series will mark the beginning of the home media rights for five years from April 2018. The present agreement with Star India will come to an end in March 2018.

The BCCI has also proposed a home series against Australia in February-March 2019, involving five ODIs and two Twenty20 matches; one Test match and three ODIs against Zimbabwe as well.

This will bring the home internationals for 2018-19 to four Test matches, 13 ODIs and three Twenty20 matches.

After the away series against South Africa in 2018, India will play one ODI and one Twenty20 match against Ireland (in Ireland) in June before embarking on a long tour of England, during which India will play three ODIs and as many Twenty20 matches and five Test matches, till September.

The next away series will involve four Test matches in Australia and five ODIs and three Twenty20 matches in New Zealand in November-December 2018 and January 2019.

India is also scheduled to play — part from ODI and Twenty20 matches — a Test series against West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh and New Zealand in 2019-20, Test series against Australia and England in 2020-21, Test series against England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka in 2021-22 and four Tests against Australia in 2022-23.

The highlight of the five-year programme proposed by the BCCI is that it has reserved the April-May block open for IPL.