FTP announces Pakistan's cricketing schedule for 2019-2023

Pakistan will be in for some rigorous cricketing action in the coming years. According to ICC’s new Future Tours Programme (FTP), they’re all set to play more than 120 international matches in the time period of 2019-2023. This figure is an increase from the 104 matches they were initially supposed to participate in.

The decision had been taken at the ICC executive committee meeting was held in Singapore earlier this month. An official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) commented on the schedule and contradicted the speculation that teams like Bangladesh and Ireland will be playing more games than Pakistan.

PCB official speaks about team’s future games

According to a report in Dawn, the PCB official said, “Presently, we are in a good position as the PCB did not prefer to play matches against lowly teams like Afghanistan, Ireland, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. A propaganda is being spread that Pakistan will play less matches while teams like Bangladesh, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan will play more matches.”

The official went on to say, “In fact, these four [lowly] teams will compete more against each other. Therefore, the number [of their games] may be [comparatively] more. Whereas Pakistan will play 80 to 85 per cent of their matches against strong teams and while remaining fixtures will be against average opponents like Bangladesh, Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.”

Elucidating on the possible Indo-Pak series, the PCB has reportedly asked the ICC to defer locking in of the schedule till the issues are resolved. “As the PCB has advised the ICC not to finalise the FTP until its Resolution Committee settles the issue between India and Pakistan over the resumption of their bilateral series, the game’s governing body may announce the FTP early next year with a condition that Pakistan’s matches will be subject to the resolution of the [bilateral series] issue between India and Pakistan,” the official stated.

IPL recognised as a global cricketing event

Further, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been recognised as a global event and no international Cricket can take place 15 days prior to or after the IPL. Speaking about this, the PCB official suggested that Pakistan would possibly play lower-ranked countries during that period and said, “Many top players from across the cricketing world feature in the IPL, so no cricket board can form its best team [for international contests] during the IPL. However, still England is opposing the proposal as its own domestic cricket is on during the IPL [in April-May]. That’s why Pakistan and England will play a two-Test series during May 2018.”