PCB expresses concerns about IPL’s 2.5-month long window in ICC FTP calendar, wants discussion with other cricket boards

PCB Ramiz Raja, Jay Shah and Sourav Ganguly
PCB Ramiz Raja, Jay Shah and Sourav Ganguly (Image Credits: Twitter)
PCB Ramiz Raja, Jay Shah and Sourav Ganguly
PCB Ramiz Raja, Jay Shah and Sourav Ganguly (Image Credits: Twitter)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is very disappointed with the BCCI’s plan to extend the length of the Indian Premier League. The BCCI has clearly stated its plan to include the mega league’s two-and-a-half-month window in the ICC’s FTP calender. The BCCI secretary Jay Shah shared his vision of expanding the Indian Premier League further from the next season onwards. Meanwhile, a bemused PCB is now planning to hold talks with other cricketing boards regarding the issue.

The BCCI added two new franchises to the Indian Premier League in the 2022 edition but each team played only 14 league games. However, now the Indian Cricket Board is planning to increase the total number of games from the next season.

Recently, the history was re-written as the BCCI auctioned the IPL broadcasting and digital rights for a record-shattering price, making it one of the biggest sporting leagues in the world. However, the proposed expansion from the BCCI could not happen if the ICC doesn’t include the league in the FTP calendar.

The PCB has issues with the IPL 2.5 month-long window

“From the next FTP cycle, IPL will have an official two-and-a-half-month window so that all the top international cricketers can participate. We have had discussions with various boards as well as the ICC,” said Jay Shah in an interview with PTI.

Now the reports have surfaced that the PCB is looking to use the International Cricket Council board meeting at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham to raise their concerns about the same.

“The ICC board meeting will be held during the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July and this matter will probably be discussed there,” a PCB source revealed, as per PTI.

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“Mr Jay Shah has said the BCCI is committed to international bilateral cricket but with so many leagues cropping up and the IPL planning expansion this has to be discussed among the cricket boards,” the PCB official further added.