Future Tours Programme highlights cricket’s changing landscape

Last week, the International Cricket Council released its long-awaited men’s Future Tours Programme for the 2023-2027 cycle.

This confirmed what had been previously trailed — windows have been created for the Indian Premier League, Australia’s Big Bash League, the Bangladesh Premier League and the English Hundred. During these windows little international cricket is to be scheduled, freeing-up the top men’s T20 players.

In reality, the gap is a chasm. The Big Bash League is played between mid-December and early February, the Bangladesh Premier League between early January and mid-February and the Indian Premier League between late March and late May. Added to this mix from 2023 are the two new T20 franchise tournaments in the UAE and South Africa scheduled to be played in January and February.

Despite these windows, the 12 full International Cricket Council members will play an increased number of international matches — 777 compared with 694 in the previous cycle — comprising 173 Tests, 281 ODIs and 323 T20Is. It is the responsibility of the ICC to organize and govern cricket’s major international tournaments, with the 50-over and T20 World Cups being flagship tournaments.

Although, it appoints officials for these matches and for Test matches, the ICC has no responsibility for controlling bi-lateral fixtures between member countries. This lies with individual boards, as does the governance of domestic cricket. In effect, there is no one body in charge of cricket.

Given this situation, it is hardly surprising that the Board of Control for Cricket in India has used its financial strength and fanatical support levels to morph into a major shaper and influencer of the game.

This power will expand. A recent example is