“Let Me Assure You”: Jay Shah Promises 2-And-A-Half-Month Window For IPL

The biggest franchise cricket league in the world, the Indian Premier League is just going to get bigger. The IPL will have an extended 10-week window from the next international ICC calendar. This will allow all the world’s top cricketers to participate in the prominent T20 tournament, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah told Reuters. Shah also told Reuters that there are no immediate plans to add more franchises. At present there are 10-team competition and that any future additions must not hamper the quality of the product.

“We are in discussions with the ICC (International Cricket Council) and several other cricket boards to have an exclusive window for the IPL,”

SHAH SAID.

“Let me assure you that there will be a two-and-a-half-month window in the next ICC FTP (Future Tours Programme) calendar. so that all top international players can participate. Since this tournament benefits all… we have received a positive response from the ICC and other member boards,”

SHAH ADDED.

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Further addition of Teams not on immediate priorities for BCCI

The IPL is currently played in a span of over two months. During this time international cricket effectively comes to a halt. The league has plans to go from the current 74 matches per season to 94 in 2027. The governing body of ICC is likely to discuss the 2024-2031 FTP calendar next month. Moreover, the $6.2 billion media rights sale earlier this month for the next five years has boosted BCCI’s confidence for the expansion of the league. The two new franchises Gujarat Titans and Lucknow SuperGiants paid a combined $1.7 billion to join the league, which would remain a 10-team affair “for now”, said Shah.

“Expanding the IPL further will depend on many factors like expanding the talent pool with no compromise on quality of talent, strengthening grassroots, building the right infrastructure and many other factors,”

HE SAID.

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Will the expanded IPL hamper India’s commitment to international cricket?

Shah dismissed suggestions that extending the IPL window would disrupt India’s commitment to international cricket.

“The BCCI remains committed to international cricket and it’s not just the marquee series like India v England or India v Australia. We want to design a comprehensive calendar where we aim to help associate nations with consistent and regular bilateral tours.”

HE SAID.