Scott Styris in favour of Indian Premier League (IPL) expansion to 3-month window: The Indian Premier League (IPL) is currently right on track toward the expansion of league. Year by year we have seen how the elite Indian tournament has evolved in all dimensions, however, earlier, there was a concern about how the BCCI would be able to carve out a 3-month long window for the league in the coming years. With the international scheduling getting extensively cluttered, it became more of a challenge for the richest cricket board.
However, tackling all the bumps, BCCI is certainly going to get an exclusive three-month long window for the Indian Premier League in the coming few years.
In fact, in the Tata IPL 2022, the league saw 74 matches, which was an upgrade from 60 matches in IPL 2021. As per the BCCI’s projections, the league will see a peak of 10 matches in the next three years while the total number of matches will reach 94 by 2027.
Notably, in the recently announced ICC Future Tour Programme for all the full member nations, the governing body has awarded a full two-month exclusive window to the IPL.
The decision has been welcomed by several experts including former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris who hailed the ICC’s decision and reckoned that in the leading few years, IPL will have a three-month window.
“I remember 10 years ago the conversation was all around how it was going to creep four or five days each year and it will get to a three-month season,” said Scott Styris, former New Zealand all rounder. “Well, we’re starting to get there now. It’s just taking a little longer than we expected, and I think you’re right. I think it will become the focal point that will allow all the players from all over the world to come together and play without any issues from a nationality perspective. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I was in favour of it 10 years ago and I’m in favour of it now.”
India, England, Australia to play more Tests:
Styris also talked about the test scheduling and how India, Australia and England will get more matches as compared to other teams.
Explaining the rationale behind his statement, Styris asserted that the ICC collected a large chunk of its revenue from the big-three countries (India, Australia and England).
“..I’m not sure why the surprise is there. It’s the big three teams and you understand why. That’s where the money in world cricket comes from. But you know, it’s very, very tough thing to have a meaningful competition when teams play different amounts of games. Think about the English Premier League. Football’s big in India. You know you don’t see Man United play Liverpool five times and yet Burnley plays West Ham just once. You know it’s an even playing field,” said Styris.
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