BCCI considering to field two Indian teams simultaneously post the Coronavirus pandemic
Upon resumption of the sport, teams might adopt for different alternatives to cover lost time.
The Coronavirus pandemic has stopped all the cricketing action across the world. A lot of international series have already been postponed and it remains to be seen how the lost time is covered post the pandemic. Rather there is a possibility of too many matches being played later. This is the same reason why the BCCI is pondering over playing two simultaneous Indian teams at a time at the international level.
Earlier, even England’s limited-overs skipper Eoin Morgan was ready to do so as he felt the Test and ODI-T20I squads could play at a time to cover the lost time due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, BCCI is strictly considering the option to separate India’s red-ball and white-ball squads if the team has to play multiple internationals on the same day.
A BCCI official, on the condition of anonymity, stated the board might have to go that route in the future if the need arises. “None of us know when sport, especially international cricket will resume. But if we have to safeguard all our stakeholders – from sponsors to spectators – one of the options is to select two different squads and play a Test series and a T20I series simultaneously,” he was quoted as saying by Sportstar.
Australia once played two matches in two different countries
If such an alternative is adopted, the fans could get to see team India playing a Test match during the day and then enjoy a T20 International later in the evening. According to a report, it has also been understood that the BCCI has already started working on the numbers to be ready with the two squads if and when needed.
If a situation actually turns out to be true, India will be become the second team after Australia to play two different series simultaneously. In 2017, they had played a Test match in Pune, a day after hosting Sri Lanka for a T20I at the Adelaide Oval. All the Test players were missing from that game or rather series as the team led by Steve Smith had to travel to the sub-continent.
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