KOLKATA: On October 13 in Auckland, ICC decided on having a nine-team Test league and a 13-team ODI league, aimed at bringing context and meaning to bilateral cricket. With India shutting down all bilateral cricketing ties with Pakistan, BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary said that they would discuss the contentious issue of including the latter in the Future Tours Programme during their upcoming SGM in New Delhi on December 1.
“In any World Cup, if 20 teams play, it is not possible for all to face each other. So a way is being found. Obviously India-Pakistan is something that is beyond cricket,” Chaudhary said. He also added that the board will try to squeeze in a camp for the Indian team ahead of their South Africa tour. The series against Sri Lanka will conclude with the third T20I in Mumbai on December 24, and India are scheduled to leave for South Africa four days later.
“There will be a camp ahead of the South Africa tour. There’s very little time as far as I understand, but we will see what can be done to best aid the team,” Chaudhary said.
Regarding ICC’s approval of a four-day Test trial between South Africa and Zimbabwe, and whether India will take part in it or not, he said, “There are issues for and against it. It is difficult to say (whether India will take part in it or not).”