The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to advocate for a restructured Future Tours Programme (FTP) for the 2027-31 cycle, aiming to secure better preparation time for its players. A two-day workshop is scheduled for September 22 and 23 in Dubai, where operations teams from all cricket boards, along with representatives from the top eight Associate nations, will convene to discuss the upcoming international calendar.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia emphasized the need for change following a recent Indian team review meeting. He noted that the current volume of cricket is overwhelming, stating, “The challenge we are facing is that there are too many matches in the year, and that is why, in the next FTP, we will do certain things and take certain measures.” The board has instructed its FTP representatives to prioritize scheduling that allows for adequate rest and sufficient time for acclimatization or friendly matches before major series, particularly when touring SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries.
The scheduling task is complex, as the BCCI must balance bilateral commitments with a packed ICC event schedule. The upcoming cycle includes the 2028 T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the 2029 Champions Trophy in India, the 2030 T20 World Cup across England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the 2031 ODI World Cup hosted by India and Bangladesh. Bilateral highlights include India hosting England for five Tests in early 2028, a tour of Australia later that year, a return visit to England in 2029, and hosting Australia in 2031, alongside ongoing World Test Championship obligations.
Beyond scheduling gaps, there is a growing industry sentiment that bilateral cricket is losing its financial appeal, leading to discussions about reintroducing more multilateral series. While tri-series and quadrangular events have largely faded from the calendar, a T20I tri-series is currently active in Namibia featuring the hosts, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Since the 2019 World Cup, only one ODI tri-series has taken place—involving New Zealand, South Africa, and Pakistan—ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy.
India’s history with such tournaments includes four instances since the 2011 World Cup: a 2011-12 series in Australia (with Sri Lanka), a 2013 event in the West Indies (with Sri Lanka), a 2014-15 series in Australia (with England), and the 2018 T20I Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka, which India won on a final-ball six by Dinesh Karthik. Despite this history, the BCCI has not hosted a multilateral tournament since the 2003-04 TVS Cup, which featured Australia and New Zealand.
The shift toward multilateral events remains a subject of debate, particularly regarding economic viability and media rights. While these tournaments are typically owned by the host board, the BCCI faces unique challenges in valuing non-India matches, leaving the feasibility of such events in India to be determined during the upcoming planning sessions.
