The Board of Control for Cricket in India is looking at changes to India’s Future Tours Programme to give players more recovery and preparation time before demanding overseas assignments. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the packed international calendar has become a major challenge and that future scheduling should include proper rest, acclimatisation and practice opportunities.
BCCI Wants More Balanced Future Scheduling
India’s international calendar has become increasingly busy, with bilateral series, major tournaments, franchise cricket and other commitments competing for players’ time.
The BCCI now wants the next FTP cycle to be structured more carefully so that players are not moving directly from one demanding assignment into another.
The main areas being considered include:
- More rest between series
- Better preparation before overseas tours
- Acclimatisation time
- Practice or warm-up matches
- Improved workload management
Why SENA Tours Need Extra Preparation
Tours to South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia can present very different playing conditions compared with India.
Players may have to adjust to:
- Different pitches
- Weather conditions
- Ball movement
- Bounce
- Larger grounds
- Different match environments
Giving players additional time to adapt could therefore become an important part of India’s future overseas planning.
Warm-Up Matches Could Become More Important
One of the proposed changes is to include friendly or warm-up matches before major SENA series.
These games can give players opportunities to become familiar with local conditions before the main competition begins.
However, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has raised an important point: simply adding warm-up matches may not be enough if the opposition is too weak. He argued that strong competitive opposition would make these preparation games more valuable.
Managing Player Workload
Workload management has become a major issue in modern cricket.
Players now participate across multiple formats and competitions, increasing the physical and mental demands on them.
A better FTP could help management balance:
- Match commitments
- Recovery periods
- Training
- Travel
- Injury prevention
- Format-specific preparation
This could be particularly important for players expected to represent India across multiple formats.
Dubai Workshop to Discuss the Next FTP Cycle
The BCCI is expected to raise these scheduling concerns during an international workshop in Dubai on September 22 and 23.
The workshop will focus on planning the 2027–31 FTP cycle, with operations teams from international boards expected to participate. Eight Associate nations have also been invited.
The discussions could influence how international cricket is scheduled over the coming years.
What This Could Mean for India’s Future
Better scheduling could give India’s players more time to prepare for challenging overseas conditions.
It could also help reduce the risk of players arriving at major series without enough recovery or adjustment time.
For young players in particular, proper preparation could be valuable because international cricket demands a different level of consistency and adaptability.
India’s 2027 World Cup Preparation
The BCCI has also indicated that a roadmap is being developed for India’s preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The board’s recent review meeting discussed India’s recent performances and the plan for the coming year, showing that scheduling and preparation are being considered alongside team performance.
Final Thoughts
The BCCI’s proposed FTP changes could represent a significant shift towards more player-friendly international scheduling. More rest, acclimatisation and meaningful preparation matches could help India approach difficult overseas assignments in a better-prepared state.
The Dubai workshop will be an important next step as boards begin shaping the 2027–31 international calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FTP in cricket?
FTP stands for Future Tours Programme. It is the framework used to plan international cricket tours and series over a longer period.
What are SENA countries?
SENA refers to South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia, where playing conditions can differ significantly from those in India.
Why does India want more acclimatisation time?
Additional acclimatisation can help players adjust to local weather, pitches, bounce, ball movement and other conditions before a major series.
Why are warm-up matches useful?
Warm-up matches provide opportunities to adapt to local conditions and practice against competitive opposition before an important series.
When will the next FTP cycle be discussed?
The BCCI is expected to raise its scheduling concerns at a Dubai workshop scheduled for September 22–23 as boards work on the 2027–31 FTP cycle.
