More matches, less playing days in new FTP

India will host 81 matches across formats from 2019-2023, 30 more than the previous Future Tours Programme (FTP), but the number of playing days for the ever-busy cricketers will come down with the BCCI yesterday deciding to prune the Test schedule against lesser-ranked teams. The revised FTP was agreed upon unanimously at the Board's Special General Body Meeting (SGM) - a move that will see India playing more Tests against Australia, England and South Africa but also addressing captain Virat Kohli's complaints on player fatigue.

Virat Kohli

A working group, comprising all three office-bearers, will take a final call on this. "Earlier, the proposed FTP for the five year cycle (2019-2023) had 51 matches across three formats. The new proposal has 81 home matches in that cycle," acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary told mediapersons after the meeting.

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