Coronavirus outbreak: BCCI to prioritize future bilateral series
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly devising a plan to help financially-hit cricket nations in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. According to an official, BCCI secretary Jay Shah is looking for solutions regarding Future Tours Programme (FTP). India are likely to tour a number of countries for bilateral series following the ongoing lockdown. Here is more.
India may add matches to existing home calendar
"While we know that India can't possibly tour every other country in a short span of time, it is possible to add matches to the existing home calendar and help other member boards out by covering current losses," a BCCI official told Hindustan Times.
India will tour Sri Lanka, South Africa and Australia
India are expected to tour three countries in 2020. These include - three ODIs and T20Is in Sri Lanka and three T20Is in South Africa. Meanwhile, India's tour of Zimbabwe remains under doubt. India are scheduled to tour Australia for T20I series following the Asia Cup. Besides, the two nations will compete in a four-match Test series down under post the T20 World Cup.
BCCI may give revenue from extra matches to visiting teams
Apart from the foreign tours, BCCI is also planning to add home matches in the international calendar. BCCI could around Rs. 950 crores from bilateral cricket in 2020-21 along with the annual revenue share from ICC (Rs. 380 crores). "A part of the proceeds from extra matches held in India may be given to the visiting team," the official added.
BCCI will look after the staff despite losses
BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal feels the pandemic will not affect the cricket board financially. "Even in the worst-case scenario, the BCCI will try and protect the staff and cricketing fraternity, and do its best to minimise the impact on our cricketers and administrative staff," he said. He added, "the BCCI has always parked excess funds [in instruments] with assured returns."
