BCCI to assess Virat Kohli's complaint over compact schedule
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Acting BCCI president CK Khanna has stated that the Indian cricket board should seriously discuss Virat Kohliâs view on the cramped schedule which has hampered the preparation for the upcoming tour of South Africa. Yesterday, Kohli had criticized the BCCI for their poor scheduling in 2017.
Indian cricketers have been playing non-stop cricket for as long as one can remember. After a home season which included Tests against New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, and Australia, the players took part in the exerting IPL. The league was followed by ICC Champions Trophy where India made it all the way to the final before they packed their bags for the Carribean and followed that up with a tour to Sri Lanka. Returning to India, they hosted Australia and New Zealand for limited over series before starting the ongoing series against the Lankans.
Ahead of the second Test between India and Sri Lanka the Indian skipper had raised questions over BCCIâs series scheduling decision. Khanna now has advised the board members to seriously look at the overloaded schedule and take a call on future scheduling.
"Virat is the Indian captain and his viewpoint on cricketing matters should be taken with utmost seriousness. We are proud how the team is performing but if players are feeling fatigued, we need to have a broader view on the issue," Khanna said as quoted by PTI.
"I think we should analyze if it is a good option to have three back-to-back series with hardly any break for the players. The matter should be taken up at an appropriate forum. It will be great if this can also be included in the agenda for the December 9, Special General Meeting."
After India are done with the series against Sri Lanka, they scheduled to play three ODIs and the same number of T20Is against the island nation. The home series will end on December 24 and after that, the Indian team will start their South African tour with a practice match on December 30.Â
Originally, the November-December slot was reserved for home and away series against Pakistan for every year till 2023. But in the present scenario, the Indian board avoids playing series against their neighboring country because of which the two-month window is wide open.
"The two series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka were replacement slots for the Pakistan series. Only the Australia series was in the Futures Tours and Programmes because as per our MoU with CA, the Test and limited overs series will be separate tours when the two countries tour each other," a senior BCCI office-bearer said on conditions of anonymity.
