BCCI may ask ECB to reduce the gap between second and third Test to make a window for IPL - Reports

According to reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking to complete the remaining 31 matches of the Indian Premier League( IPL) in September, post the conclusion of England - India Test series in UAE. The India tour of England concludes on September 14, giving BCCI a realistic window of 30 days, between September 15 to October 15, to finish the tournament.

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Earlier, few reports suggested that BCCI had requested the England Cricket Board (ECB) to modify the schedule of England- India Test series. The ECB, though, denied receiving any such request from the BCCI. It is now speculated that BCCI, at some point before the series gets underway, may ask the ECB to reduce the gap between the second and third Test from nine days to four which will give the Indian board more time to work with.

“If that gap can be reduced to four, it will allow BCCI five extra days to make use of,” The Times of India quoted a source as saying. “If we can have those extra days eked out from India-England schedule, then it adds to the window.”

The source further gave insights on how BCCI can finish the tournament even if ECB deny to reduce the gap between the second and third Test.

“If not (able to reduce the gap) then within these 30 days, a full day will have to be set aside for the Indian team and the English cricketers to travel from the UK to the UAE, five days will have to be set aside for the knockouts later. That will leave the BCCI with 24 days to conclude 27 matches. This window has four weekends available, which means a total of eight Saturdays and Sundays for double-headers, that can accommodate 16 matches. That will leave the BCCI with 11 matches to be held in 19 days. That’s a week extra,” TOI quoted sources as saying.

BCCI also believes that the IPL will serve as a perfect platform for the players to fine-tune their skills ahead of the T20 World Cup.