Board officials set to discuss FTP
MUMBAI: With Indian cricket’s broadcast deal up for sale, the focus of BCCI officials will be to find a way to manipulate ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) to get the most out of it. The FTP, thus, will be on top of BCCI’s agenda when the officials get together at a SGM in New Delhi.
There was a windfall for BCCI earlier this year through the sale of IPL media rights. But to lure broadcasters for television rights of the national team may not be as easy. While it was a win-win situation in the current deal because India played 90 per cent of their cricket at home in 2016-17, in 2018 the BCCI doesn’t have much to offer as Team India will play most of their cricket abroad. Hence, in order to attract bidders, the BCCI will need to get the FTP right for the next five-year cycle from 2019 onwards so that it is attractive enough for the broadcasters to raise the bar.
In the meeting between the CoA and BCCI, it was left to BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary to chalk out a balanced FTP and it is expected to be discussed extensively at the SGM.
Entrusted with the job, the seasoned official from Haryana, Chaudhary, is known to have already consulted the experienced hands in the BCCI to take care of India’s interests.
The main focus in the FTP will be to have a strong home season while avoiding a situation like the current one where the new broadcaster faces a barren season. The idea will be for India to host international teams from October to November and then in February and March.
Also, there will be discussion on the number of playing days in a year, which India skipper Virat Kohli wants to be curtailed. The payers have Committee of Administrators’ backing on it but the BCCI officials will be difficult to convince as they feel it is the Board’s prerogative to decide on the schedule. Apart from the FTP, the SGM has to clear the hefty compensation of around Rs 850 crore to defunct IPL franchise Kochi Tuskers Kerala.
Also on agenda is the lifting of ban on the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), which is expected to have a conditional revocation of its suspension.