'Will challenge it in a very forceful manner' - PCB chairman Ramiz Raja on proposed IPL window

The Indian Premier League (IPL) became the second-most valuable sports league in the world after selling the media rights for INR 48,390 crore for the 2023-27 cycle earlier this month. After that, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah stated that there will be a separate two-and-a-half-month window for the IPL in from next year in ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP). Meanwhile, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raza has said that he will oppose this proposal at the next ICC meeting.

“There has been no announcement or decision as yet on the IPL window being increased. I will give my views on this issue at the ICC conference. My point is clear: if there is any development in world cricket that means we are being short-changed, we will challenge it in a very forceful manner and put our point across strongly in the ICC,” Ramiz Raja said at a press conference.

In the last few IPL seasons, fans have missed seeing some big-name international players due to their national duties. If the ICC grants a separate window for the IPL, then Pakistan will suffer the most. Notably, Pakistan players and coaches are banned to participate in the IPL due to political tensions with India. Pakistan played no international cricket from the April 6 to the June 7 this year due to IPL 2022 and it will get much worse if IPL gets the extended window from the ICC.

I’ve had conversations with Sourav Ganguly: Ramiz Raja

Pakistan last played a bilateral series against India in 2012-13 and there is no solid progress on resuming this historic rivalry. Recently, Raja proposed a four-team tournament consisting of India, Pakistan, Australia, and England, but the ICC rejected the proposal. He also said that he was invited to attend the last two IPL finals (the last one in India) by BCCI president Sourav Ganguly himself, but he chose not to go.

“See, I’ve had conversations with Sourav Ganguly on the sidelines. I keep telling him, there are 2-3 cricketers who are currently the board presidents or chairman. If we can’t bring a difference, what’s the point?”

“He also has his own concerns, unfortunately. On two different occasions, he invited me to IPL; once in Dubai and once this year. I was confused about whether or not to attend. I thought if I went there, fans will not spare me. There might be a cricketing sense to it, yes, but right now, there are some cracks that need to be filled because it’s a political game,” he added.