The Indian Premier League got bigger last year with the inclusion of two new teams. Now, it’s time to get longer as well. A two-and-a-half month window has been made available for the lucrative franchise league between mid-March to the beginning of June - an increase of 15 days to the existing window. The decision was announced by ICC as part of the Future Tours and Programmes (FTP) cycle from 2023-27. “The landscape around the game is continuing to evolve and we will work closely with members as we collectively adapt to that,” ICC general manager of cricket Wasim Khan said. “We are committed to growing the game and giving more fans more opportunities to enjoy cricket, but are very mindful of the need to balance that ambition with the welfare of players,” Khan added. In 2025, the second half of the Pakistan Super League will clash with IPL due to the cramped schedule and it will be interesting to see how BCCI and PCB find a solution to the problem. The Indian team will play 138 bilateral international matches during this five-year phase between May 2023 to April, 2027. They will take part in 38 Tests, 39 ODIs and 61 T20Is - the rise in the number of T20s a clear indication of the direction where the game is heading. The ODI bilaterals will mostly be three-match series.
Dhawan keen to mentor youngsters
He might have been relegated to vice-captaincy after KL Rahul's late inclusion but team's senior-most player Shikhar Dhawan is always ready to lend a helping hand to the youngsters who seek out for him. Dhawan was all set to lead the team in a three-match ODI series but now that he will be performing the duties of a deputy, he is ready to to put his best foot forward. “I quite enjoy sharing my experience with the youngsters in the team. I first came here in 2014 (actually 2013), when Duncan Fletcher was the Indian coach. If they (youngsters) reach out to me for any suggestions, I am (always) there to answer them,” Dhawan told reporters at a media conference. The 36-year-old southpaw is rather happy that skipper Rahul will get the much-needed game time ahead of the all-important Asia Cup. “It is a very good news that KL (Rahul) is back and will be leading the side as well. He is one of the main players of this Indian team. It will be a good outing for him before the Asia Cup gets underway. I am sure he will gain a lot from this tour,” Dhawan said.
Irfan hits back at Waqar at Shaheen tweet
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan said that pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel not playing in Asia Cup 2022 will be a matter of relief for other teams. Star pacer Bumrah and Patel were not available for selection in Asia Cup 2022 owing to injuries. They are currently undergoing rehab at the NCA in Bengaluru. Harshal Patel is India’s second highest wicket-taker in T20I cricket this year with 19 scalps, with veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the top with 20 wickets. Bumrah has only played three T20Is this year and he has taken three wickets. Pathan’s tweet followed a post on social media by legendary Pakistan bowler Waqar Younis, who had said in a tweet that star Pakistani pacer Shaheen Afridi’s injury will be a relief for the Indian top-order.
Pandit named KKR coach
The Kolkata Knight Riders roped in Chandrakant Pandit as their new head coach. Pandit replaces New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum, who stepped down after taking over as the coach of the England Test side in May this year. Interestingly, Pandit will be KKR’s first Indian head coach after the spell of five foreign coaches at the helm of the team’s affairs.
Musk says United tweet was a joke:
Elon Musk tweeted that "I'm not buying any sports teams", calling a viral post about him purchasing Manchester United a joke. The world's richest man has a habit of posting provocative statements on Twitter for fun and Musk was at it again when he told his more than 103 million followers: "Also, I'm buying Manchester United ur welcome. "
