BCCI wants ICC to keep Oct-Nov, Feb-March window for India's home season

The World Test Championship and the ODI league got a nod from the ICC and therefore the international boards are preparing the fixtures for the same. The BCCI has put forward certain conditions for the fresh calendar year. The Indian body has laid a condition which says that four months of the international schedule will have to be reserved for India’s home season.

During the recent meeting, which took place in New Delhi, the BCCI had conveyed this message to the ICC. Geoff Allardice, the ICC’s General Manager (Cricket), was present in the meeting as the BCCI put forward certain pointers during the T20I match between India and New Zealand on November 1 at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium.

Good news for Indian fans

To the delight of the Indian fans, the BCCI has also said that India will play longer series against Australia, South Africa and England. However, with other countries, India will play minimum games in a series- two Tests and three ODIs. It has been conveyed that the October-November and the February-March window will have to be reserved for India’s domestic and international season. It has been told that the rest of the cricket playing countries will have to make adjustments respectively.

Nine Test playing nations – India, South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies and Bangladesh will play 6 Test series each, 3 at home and 3 away. While the other countries with Test status – Zimbabwe, and the two latest entries -Ireland and Afghanistan would be kept away from the Test Championship initially but the introduction of four-day Tests would give them ample exposure to step in the scenario. As it is a point based system, each team will fetch points based on their performances and the earned points will decide which two teams will face-off in the final of the Test championship.