At a time when all the focus is on the Indian Premier League (IPL), reports have emerged stating that Team India could play an international series before the thirteenth edition of the IPL. With the postponement of the T20 World Cup earlier this week, the path is clear for the BCCI to host IPL 2020. IPL chairman Brijesh Patel has already confirmed that the tournament will be held in India and the authorities have already written to the government for the permission.
The tentative window for this year’s IPL is September 26 to November 8. But amidst all the focus on the IPL, reports suggest that the BCCI is being put under pressure to organise an international cricket series before the franchise tournament. Team India have not played any game since the tour of New Zealand ended in early March.
India-South Africa ODI series was running before the international cricket events postponement due to coronavirus pandemic
Virat Kohli & Co. were involved in a three-match ODI series against South Africa at home but the series had to be called off in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. India recently cancelled their series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe too. Earlier it looked like India would return to the field during the tour of Australia later this year.
However, the Men in Blue could play a series way before than that. As per a report in Mumbai Mirror, the BCCI stakeholders are putting pressure on the board to have an international series before the T20 league begins on September 26, preferably against South Africa. Interestingly enough, BCCI and Cricket South Africa have a few common stakeholders.
Both the teams were scheduled to play a three-match T20I series in August although the series is not a part of the original Future Tours Program. When asked about the bilateral assignment, IPL chairman Brijesh Patel told the paper: “We will discuss everything at the GC (Governing Council).”
Meanwhile, international cricket finally resumed earlier this month with the Test series between England and West Indies. Both the teams have played two Tests so far and have won each. They will play one more Test before England and Pakistan take on each other.