777 games. It simply is mindboggling. This is the total number of games that the ICC expects all the nations to play between 2023 – 2027. It is about 1 game every third day. At a time when players are close to revolting because of the sheer volume of games, the ICC has gone ahead and scheduled 83 more games than the previous cycle. What madness has gone into the committee that schedules these games is unfathomable. The ICC FTP cycle between 2023-2027 is one gigantic mess towards the end of which the exodus of players will become real.
I will not go into the details of the schedule as everything is given in this link.
I will stick to the Indian schedule during this cycle.
India are set to play 141 games over the 4 year period. Only behind Bangladesh, West Indies and England. These are international games. With an expanded IPL during the same period and with every Indian expected to play for some franchise, this number will balloon over 300 games. If this is not overkill, I do not know what is.
I have said this often that Indian players are overworked. The continuation of which will have no motivation to win games because they always know that there is another game in a couple of days. Ofcourse, some of these international games can be covered with the second-string team but from a spectator’s perspective, these are still Indian teams. Nothing more nothing less.
Indian board is least bothered
The Indian board as well know is too arrogant and they do not really care about the players nor the spectators. They seem to think that the more games the team plays, the more will be their income. The day when the board will realise that this is flawed thinking is not far off. Already, I do not see that much interest in the games against West Indies and Zimbabwe. Nevertheless, if BCCI needs to be made to see reason, they will have to experience a drastic fall.
What are the key points for India?
India for the first time in 30 years, will play Australia twice over 5 Tests and the same against England. Outside of Ashes, the India against England and India against Australia games are the marquee events in the international calendar. I cannot comment about India against England but except for one series win apiece over the last 20 years, neither of them have been competitive in the other country. However, when it comes to Australia, it is bit different with India winning the last 2 series in Australia and Australia have not been a pushover in India.
The bottomline however is that, India’s path to the WTC finals in the next couple of cycles is not an easy one. In the third cycle, India will play South Africa and Australia away and in the fourth cycle, it will be England and New Zealand. Having lost the last test series in South Africa, India will get a chance to make amends next year end. It has been awhile since they were competitive in New Zealand.
The one good thing about this schedule is ODIs are given less priority. With just 41 games scheduled, it ranks behind Tests & T20. It clearly shows where the Indian board’s priority lies. They are not likely to promote ODI any longer and rightly so. One of the format needs to go or atleast toned down. Fortunately or unfortunately, ODI is that format that must go. Test cricket I do not think will survive for too long unless it rejuvenates itself. Bazball is one way.
Cricket is in a flux. That is for certain. The length of the game does not allow to many games to be played in a short span. The sooner the authorities understands this the better it will be for all of us.
Wrapping up the ICC FTP cycle between 2023-2027
Cricket’s sustainability is seriously questioned and the ICC goes ahead and organises this many games. If they can organise so many games with just 12 full members, imagine the volume if more than 20 full members are signed up?