Afghanistan’s team will face team India when they play their first Test. This decision has been taken in the meeting of the governing body of the BCCI. The will be played in India only. The date and place of the match will be announced later. BCCI executive secretary Amitabh Chaudhary told the media, “Afghanistan had to play against Australia in the first Test of 2019. But in view of the historic relations between India and Afghanistan, we have decided to host the first Test. “Afghanistan and Ireland got the test status in June this year. Ireland has to play their first Test against Pakistan in May next year.
India will host 30 more matches as compared to the previous FTP but BCCI insisted that the number of playing days per year will decrease for the Indian cricketers.
This means the focus is likely to shift to ODIs and T20Is over Test matches.On Monday, in a special general meeting of the BCCI, the theoretical agreement was agreed between the members of the FTP.
“In 2015-19, we had 390 days of game time and playing days come down in 2019-23 cycle with two ICC events. We will have 306 days of game time apart from ICC events, the 2023 World Cup and 2021 Champions Trophy included won’t exceed 350,” BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary said.
During the next FTP, India has to play high profile series against England, South Africa and Australia in home country. The board has prepared a calendar for the next five years from 2019-2020, it has 19 Tests and 38 ODIs at home. There is a program to play 18 Tests and 29 ODIs on foreign soil. It must be interesting to see how much India plays in Australia, England or South Africa in 18 Tests and 29 ODIs. BCCI maintaining its stand on the issue of dope testing of cricketers said that there is no need to test NADA players because the Board adheres to the WADA rules.
