The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking to make changes to its Future Tours Programme (FTP) to ensure Indian players get enough rest and preparation time before major overseas series.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the board wants to give players more time to acclimatise to conditions in SENA countries, South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia. He also said the board will look at arranging practice or friendly matches before important series.
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BCCI Wants Better Planning For Overseas Tours
Speaking after the BCCI review meeting at the board’s headquarters, Saikia said the board will work on improving the FTP so that players are not constantly dealing with a packed schedule.
“Everybody is on the same page. BCCI is working very well like a well-oiled engine,” Saikia told reporters.
He also dismissed suggestions of a lack of coordination within Indian cricket, particularly when it comes to managing player injuries.
Saikia said there is proper communication between the different departments of the BCCI, the Centre of Excellence (CoE), the women’s team setup and the Indian men’s team coaching staff.
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“There is proper coordination amongst all the wings of BCCI, whether it is women’s teams committees or their technical staff or their coaches, vis-à-vis the COE, vis-à-vis the Indian men’s team’s coaching staff and the head coach. There is no difficulty in the coordination, everything is moving in the right direction,” he said.
Too Many Matches A Major Concern
According to Saikia, the biggest issue at present is the number of matches Indian players are required to play throughout the year.
“The only challenge which we are facing is that there are too many matches in the year and that is why in the next FTP we will do certain things, we will take certain measures,” he said.
The BCCI has already instructed its FTP officials to discuss the matter at upcoming international meetings.
Saikia said the board wants future schedules to include enough rest for players, along with time to get used to overseas conditions before a major series begins.
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“We have instructed our FTP persons who will be meeting very soon in various international forums that our FTP should be in such a way it should be scheduled that there is proper rest for the players as well as some kind of acclimatisation or some kind of friendly matches before any major series in SENA countries (South Africa, Australia, England and New Zealand),” he added.
BCCI Sets Roadmap For 2027 ODI World Cup
The review meeting also focused on India’s recent performances in England and Ireland, along with the team’s plans for the next year.
The meeting was attended by India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, head coach Gautam Gambhir, CoE director of cricket VVS Laxman and other BCCI officials.
“We discussed (about) our team performed in England and Ireland and also we are thinking about what we are going to do about the next one year. The road map has been prepared and we will be doing some exercises so that we have a very good performance in 2027 World Cup,” Saikia said.
Saikia on speculations around COE's performance
Saikia also said the COE is functioning properly even without having the Head of Sports Science and Medicine in place.
“I would like to reiterate once more that the vacant position of the head of the sports science is not a deterrent of our activities in COE,” Saikia said.
“(Filling) that post is required, but that is a very high level post, and for that, a proper qualified person should be positioned. We have about 16 persons in place to maintain the fitness level or the rehab facilities.”
"To supervise that one important person is required, and for that he must be qualified up to a different level. That kind of person is very less in number in India, as well as in the whole world.
"We are trying to find out that kind of a person at the earliest possible time but without him also it is running in the right manner,” Saikia added.