PCB to Challenge IPL Proposed Extended Window

PCB to Challenge IPL: PCB board to Challenge IPL’s Proposed Extended Window during the ICC AGM. However, there has been no announcement from the ICC about the window and the FTP for the next eight-year cycle has not yet been finalised.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), who are feeling “short-changed” by the Indian Premier League (IPL) potentially getting a two-and-a-half-month window in the next ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP), will raise the issue and challenge the development at the ICC AGM in July.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), who are feeling “short-changed” by the Indian Premier League (IPL)

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The IPL had been an eight-team tournament since 2014. However, the two new teams — Lucknow Super Giants and winners Gujarat Titans — were added in the 2022 edition and as a result, the number of matches also got increased from 60 to 74 and the duration of the league was also extended from 50-odd days to over two months.

In the bid document for the IPL’s recent media-rights auction, the BCCI had also said the number of matches in the IPL could go up to 84 in 2025 and 2026, and up to 94 in 2027.

But, PCB’s comments came after BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s recent remark that the Indian board will be getting an extended window for the IPL in the ICC’s next FTP cycle, which will make sure “all the top international cricketers can participate”.

Pakistan have decided to challenge the new two-and-a-half month expanded window for the Indian Premier League. 

PCB chairman Ramiz

However, there has been no announcement from the ICC about the window and the FTP for the next eight-year cycle has not yet been finalised.

Notably, the Indian Premier League (IPL) doesn’t allow Pakistan players to take part except in the first season of the league in 2008 due to poor political relations between the two countries. As a result, the IPL window arguably impacts Pakistan’s international season more than other members.