PCB has problem with 2.5-month window of IPL in FTP calendar, seeks discussion
The Indian Premier League brand continues to grow as the cash-rich league scripts history with record sales of its media rights for digital and television. Soon after the deal was struck, the BCCI secretary told PTI in an interview that the IPL will have a window of two and a half months from the next FTP cycle. “Let me tell you that from the next ICC FTP calendar, IPL will have an official window of two and a half months so that all top international cricketers can participate. We have discussed with various boards as well as the ICC,” Shah had said.
Taking cognizance of this statement, the PCB has now become active and they have expressed their displeasure over increasing the window of IPL in FTP. That is why we now want to discuss with other national cricket boards the proposed two-and-a-half-month window for IPL in the ICC’s next FTP calendar as they feel it may adversely affect various international series.
Viacom18 bagged the digital rights with a winning bid of Rs 23,758 crore. India has witnessed a digital revolution and there are endless possibilities in this field. The digital landscape has changed the way cricket is viewed. This has been a big factor in the growth of the game and the Digital India vision. — jay shah (@JayShah) June 14, 2022
A PCB source said, “The ICC Board will meet during the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July and the matter will probably be discussed there.” The PCB official said that the PCB is happy with the money coming into cricket, however, BCCI’s plan to fully book top international players for the IPL every year could have an adverse impact on international bilateral series. “Mr. Jay Shah has said that BCCI is committed to international bilateral cricket, but discussions with several leagues and also between cricket boards about the extension of IPL’s plans should be made,” a PCB official said.
Pakistani players have not been included in the IPL auction since the first edition since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. While many Pakistani cricketers participated in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League, but since then, they have not been included to be a part of it. Neither the cash-rich league nor the BCCI plays any bilateral series due to strained cross-border relations with Pakistan.
Many cricket analysts and critics believe that huge amounts of money have been pumped into the IPL in the latest media rights that will eventually change the face of international cricket with the ongoing FTP calendar coinciding with the 2023 World Cup in India.
With inputs from PTI