IPL gets nod from ICC for extended window

The BCCI secretary Jay Shah had previously revealed the board’s plans of extending the window for the Indian Premier League to 10 weeks. The plans have finally fallen in place and IPL is now set to get an extended window in the Future Tours Programme (FTP) calendar so that more and more international cricketers get a chance to participate in the cash-rich event.

The Indian Premier League has gotten a nod for a two-and-a-half-month window from the next season onwards as franchise-based cricket grows more and more. Every year, the IPL’s official window falls between the final week of March and the first week of June. But as per the recent developments, the time slot will now be stretched by two more weeks.

As per a report by ESPNcricinfo, the ICC’s most recent Future Tours Programme (FTP) near-final draft document provides information on the new schedule alterations. Although it has had a fairly formal slot in the calendar for some years, this version supports BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s statement regarding a two-week extension last month. Throughout those four years, there haven’t been many international cricket matches scheduled.

The number of matches will increase by the end of the five-year broadcasting cycle

Between 2014 and 2021, eight teams competed in the IPL, which resulted in 60 games every season. It increased to 10 franchises and 74 matches in 2022. The BCCI had estimated a range of matches per season, during the auction of its media rights for the following five years, from 74 games in 2023 and 2024, 84 matches in 2025 and 2026, and a maximum of 94 matches for the deal’s last year in 2027.

Last month’s sale of the league’s broadcast rights for the following five years increased the wealth of the world’s richest board by $6.2 billion. Two news teams were added in the 15th edition of the IPL, and Gujarat Titans, one of the new entrants, went on to defeat the inaugural winners Rajasthan Royals in the finals to lift the coveted cup.

Lucknow Super Giants was the other team to enter the league this year, and the two franchises paid a combined $1.7 billion while making their way. The IPL became even more interesting with its expansion to a 10-team competition and notably both the new entrants made their place in the playoffs.