The BCCI could have played a second-string team captained by Hardik Pandya, shortening the series or switching it to a Twenty20 or One-Day International format.
Reports have surfaced that the BCCI is considering scrapping a planned home series against Afghanistan because of the limited time available before their tour of the West Indies. However, there is a chance that a second-string team could play in its place. After nearly two months of intense IPL action, the Indian team will go to England for the one-off WTC final. However, most of the senior players, including Kohli and Rohit, will require some time off before taking on the West Indies tour, where all three formats will be played. Both Kohli and Rohit are expected to play in both Tests and ODIs, so they should get plenty of downtime.
The BCCI may have to play a second-string team captained by Hardik Pandya because they only have the dates of June 20-30 to play a series against Afghanistan.
While Afghanistan Cricket Board president Mirwais Ashraf is in India for the IPL final and a meeting of the Asian Cricket Council is planned, the cricket boards of India and Afghanistan may work out the kinks in their plans for a white-ball series.
After the IPL is over, the Indian squad will have a very busy schedule. The squad’s coaching staff and a few players have already departed for England in front of the World Test Championship final against Australia on June 7. However, before that, the team will embark on a comprehensive tour of the Caribbean.
From July 12 to August 13, India will take on the West Indies in a series of five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and two Tests. Most of the IPL’s best players will be playing in the Ireland series, and Pandya might even sit out with Asia Cup in mind.
The Asia Cup 2023 will have its destiny decided at a meeting of the ACC board that will take place on the day of the IPL final, meaning that Indian players would have even less time to rest before the crucial 50-over World Cup in October and November.
Assuming the September 2023 date for the Asia Cup is finalized, this will leave little time for recovery for the Indian team, which has already suffered serious injuries to key players like Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer without a clear idea of when they will be able to return to action.
India will wrap off their World Cup preparations with a three-match ODI series against Australia in September. This will be India’s second such series this year.
It has been reported on ‘Cricbuzz’ that the BCCI is having trouble scheduling the Afghanistan series, which is planned to have three ODIs, due to the lack of time and the fact that the broadcast deal with Disney Star has ended and a new tender has not been published.
At an earlier media event in Mumbai, senior BCCI secretary Jay Shah had said, “BCCI media rights tender will be on schedule this year (June-July) and will depend on the Afghanistan tour, but more likely the process will start from the Australia series.” The Board will consult with all relevant parties and make a temporary determination.
