ECB chairman Colin Graves writes to ICC raising objections to Future Tours Programme from 2023-31, says board will not support it

New Delhi: The BCCI has got a shot in the arm after England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) officially intimated ICC that it will not support the global body’s bid to have a flagship event every year from 2023 to 2031. [caption id=“attachment_3291510” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representative photo. Reuters[/caption] With the Indian Board having already opposed the proposed move, and with Cricket Australia also having done the same, it is understood that the ICC may now face severe roadblocks on the issue with the ‘Big Three’ of world cricket in agreement among themselves. “ECB is not in a position to support the current proposal for ICC events from 2023-2031,” ECB chairman Colin Graves wrote in an email (in possession of PTI) to ICC Chief Executive Manu Sawhney. The ICC in its last meeting in Dubai had proposed that in the next FTP (Future Tours Programme) Cycle for the eight year period between 2023 and 2031, there would be two 50 over World Cups, four T20 World Cup and two more multi-nation tournaments to make it eight events in eight years. Graves broadly made three specific points as to why ECB will not be able to support the move. First, their own bilateral engagements will be compromised; second, concern about workload and health of their players; and third, an extra ICC event in a particular year will take sheen off the ICC World Test Championship final. “The impact of the proposed schedule on ICC events on bilateral cricket is a serious concern for the ECB. The proposed schedule risks compromising the time available and thus value and integrity of the bilateral cricket calendar for all member boards,” Graves wrote in his communications to Sawhney. Graves mentioned that “increased frequency of ICC world championship” will devalue it further. The second issue about players’ welfare was also specifically mentioned by Graves. “ECB cannot support a schedule where our best players need to play more than they currently do. “Players’ welfare is primary concern to the ECB and current proposal requires that international players are likely to have fewer days to prepare and rest,” he stated, reminding that the global body should also be concerned about “mental and physical wellbeing” of players just like member Boards. The third and final point raised is ECB’s commitment to long term health of Test cricket. “ECB cannot support a proposal that seeks to play an additional ICC Men’s event in a year where the ICC Men’s World Test Championship is scheduled as it risks devaluing World Test Championship and future health of Test cricket,” Graves said.