BCCI To Lock In Broadcast Deal By August-End Before Series Against Australia; Afghanistan ODIs Moved To January

BCCI secretary Jay Shah said on Friday the media rights deal for the broadcast of cricket matches involving India for the 2023-2027 cycle will be in place by August-end. The deal, he said, will be locked in before the proposed three-match ODI series against Australia at home in September. The deal with Star Sports, which began in 2018, ended in March this year. "Media rights deal will be done by August end," Shah told media in Mumbai on Friday. India will play three ODIs against Australia before the World Cup, and after the mega-event they will play five T20Is against the Kangaroos.

Shah added the series against Afghanistan had been moved to January and will not take place before the 50-over World Cup, scheduled between October 5 and November 19.

He confirmed that India will be sending its cricket teams for the Hangzhou Asian Games, scheduled to commence on September 23.

"We are going to participate in the Asian Games. The Apex Council has approved the participation of our men's and women's teams," he said.

The BCCI secretary added that sports management firm Grant Thornton had sent their suggestions for the upgrade and repair of 10 out of the 12 stadiums, which will be hosting the World Cup.

Player retirement policy

Shah said that the BCCI will come up with a policy to prevent players taking retirement from domestic cricket and the IPL, with Chennai Super Kings' Ambati Rayudu being the prime example. Rayudu had announced his retirement from the IPL after the 2023 final, and is going to play for Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket in the US.

"We'll come out with a policy to prevent the trend of pre-determined retirement. The office-bearers will make a policy and send it back for approval," Shah said.

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