ICC 2023-27 FTP Cycle Will See Teams Play 777 International Matches Across Formats

The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the schedule for the next Future Tours Program (FTP) 2022-23 cycle, which includes all the bilateral series and the major ICC events.

As many as 777 international matches will be played – 173 Tests, 281 ODIs, and 323 T20Is – in the 2023-2027 FTP cycle. The previous cycle had 694 international matches.

ICC GM of Cricket Wasim Khan said: “I’d like to thank our Members for the effort that has gone into creating this FTP for the next four years. We are incredibly lucky to have three vibrant formats of the game, with an outstanding programme of global events and strong bilateral and domestic cricket and this FTP is designed to allow all cricket to flourish.”

Border-Gavaskar Trophy to have five matches, ICC reveals WTC calendar

Former cricketer Ricky Ponting praised the decision to make the Border-Gavaskar Trophy a 5-match series, adding an extra game to the previous schedules.

“I think spectators from Australia and India and probably anyone that loved the game around the world would have liked to have seen more Test matches between Australia and India, so absolutely I think it’s a fantastic initiative and more importantly, I think all the players will really enjoy that as well.”

“The thing about Australia-India series is that the conditions we play into so are so different and so contrasting. When India come to Australia they get the fast, bouncy wickets that offer something for the seamers,” Ponting told host Sanjana Ganesan on The ICC Review.

“And then when Australia go to India it’s pretty much the other way round with a lot of spin and a lot of reverse swing bowling. So that contrast in itself I think is what players really like and what the fans would love to watch,” he added.

As has been the norm, India, Australia, and England will play the most matches – 20, 21, and 22 games. The FTP cycle will include 5 ICC events, beginning with the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

Also Read –  IND vs ZIM: Quite An Important Player: Shikhar Dhawan On Washington Sundar’s Absence From The ODI Series