No home-and-away for new FTP

[Sachinism]

New details of the proposed post-2012 Future Tours Programme have emerged, with David Morgan, the ICC president, stating the home-and-away component of the current model could be scrapped. All teams at present must play each other twice in Test and one-day series over a six-year cycle, but Morgan said the new FTP could reduce the mandatory requirement to one series. Such a move would allow national boards greater flexibility in arranging bilateral "icon" series, and could lead to an over all reduction in scheduling depending on their manoeuvrings. Morgan was hopeful the relaxation of the home-and-away requirement would appease player unions, who have been outspoken in their criticism of the demands currently placed on elite cricketers. "The process is similar but the results will be different," Morgan told Cricinfo of the draft FTP. "I can't elaborate, but at the moment it's a requirement that in any six-year cycle each full member has to play the other home and away in a minimum of two Tests and three one-day internationals. I believe there will be a relaxation of that. Perhaps not in the number of games, but there's the possibility of instead having to play everybody home and away in a fixed cycle, you may either play them away or home. "The FTP essentially is a basket of bilateral agreements between the ten full members with some consideration given to the more proficient associate countries like Ireland and the Netherlands. That set of bilateral arrangements is continuing. I firmly believe that it is very important to consult with the players. Where FICA [Federation of International Cricketers' Associations] is recognised, which is in the majority of countries, we are very happy to liaise and discuss things with Tim May and his team. I find them a responsible body." FICA last month called on the ICC to scrap the FTP in its current format and enlist the services of independent consultants to devise a new scheduling system. In a letter addressed to the chief executives of cricket's ten full-voting countries, which has been obtained by Cricinfo, May, the union's chief executive, proposed an annual Test and one-day championship he believed would add context and attract renewed interest in the game. The notion of a Test championship model has been supported by a number of cricketing bodies, Cricket Australia and the Marylebone Cricket Club among them. FICA's proposal would see the top eight nations split into two four-team conferences, with semi-finals and finals to be played every three years. The fourth and final year of the proposed cycle would be referred to as an "icon year", and include the World Cup as well as high-profile bilateral series such as India-Pakistan and the Ashes. "We believe that the model of bi lateral ad hoc series that have been cricket's structure for the past century (and again from 2012-2020) is fast becoming an outdated model, and will be unable to cater for the changing cricket landscape," May wrote. "It is unusual for FICA to request the ICC and its member boards to review a decision of the ICC board, however, we are of the firm opinion that there are serious flaws in the proposed 2012-2020 FTP that will severely threaten the primacy of international cricket in future years." The likelihood of such a model being adopted appears remote, however, with chief executives gravitating toward an FTP similar to that currently in operation, with the exception of the home-and-away requirement. Following a two-day board meeting in Johannesburg in October, the ICC issued a release stating an in principle agreement had been reached on the draft FTP. http://www.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/current/story/438690.html

[meloveindia]

this simply means, the Big 4 plays more among themselves and split profits India, Aus, SA, England what about the children of the lesser gods?

[Mamu]

I'm pretty sure this is being done keeping the Pakis in mind. So that these guys don't make a fuss about Home. When the FTP comes out -- all teams will have Pakis visiting them and nobody touring Pakistan. This will take away the possibilty of Pakistan arranging home series in some other land. -- This might even include the possibility of India having Pakistan in India -- which will probably satisfy all and sundry. I think ICC has finally realized that things are not going to get any better in that **** hole for the next ten years -- so they are just being realistic and taking this step.

[Feed]

Scrapping home-and-away compulsions won't reduce player burnout: FICA Scrapping the home-and-away compulsions from the FTP cannot resolve the issue of player burn-out, says the FICA. More... Thursday 10th December 2009 "Scrapping matches won't help much" Scrapping the home-and-away compulsions from the FTP cannot resolve the issue of player burn-out, says the FICA. "(The) problem with the ICC's model and David Morgan's contention that the volume of cricket will be decreased is that because windows have been carved out for Champions League and the Indian Premier League (albeit unofficially for the IPL), international cricket will only be able to be scheduled in 42 of the weeks of the year, rather than 52," FICA Chief Executive Tim May was quoted as saying by 'The Daily Telegraph'. ICC President David Morgan has said that the home and away rule, under which teams have to play each other twice over a six-year cycle, could be relaxed in the post-2012 FTP. But May said such an arrangement would not help much because the free time on the calendar would be taken up by IPL and the Champions League. "If you assume that the best players in world will play IPL and then aggregate these matches with the proposed international calendar, the players will be playing more days cricket in the period 2012-2020 than they previously did. More is not better, context is vital and the sooner ICC schedule matches according to an agreed context (annual or bi-annual championships) the better the game will be," May said.

[Feed]

SA, NZ players' body seek window for IPL, CL The players associations of South Africa and New Zealand feel there should be a separate window for the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Champions League but insist the cash-awash Twenty20 events should co-exist and not compete with international cricket. More... SA, NZ players' body seek window for IPL, CL December 11, 2009 15:15 IST The players associations of South Africa and New Zealand feel there should be a separate window for the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Champions League but insist the cash-awash Twenty20 events should co-exist and not compete with international cricket. "Yes, there is a need for an IPL and Champions League window, but then they must not expand outside this window. International cricket, IPL and Champions League must co-exist and not compete. Players should not be put in a position of having to choose between playing one or the other," said Tony Irish, CEO of South African Cricketers' Association (SACA). Irish's views, were backed by New Zealand Cricket Players' Association (NZCPA) CEO Heath Mills, who said while creating the window for the Twenty20 tournaments, it should be ensured that international cricket is not devalued. "It is absolutely essential that there are windows created for the IPL and the Champions League. If they do not create a window for the IPL then I'm certain our best players in New Zealand will not sign central contracts in the future so they can choose to play in the IPL ahead of any clash that may occur with the Blackcaps schedule," Mills said. "If that happens, it will devalue international cricket as the best players will no longer be playing all the time," Mills added. ICC [ Images ] President David Morgan has hinted that the mandatory home-and-away series over a six-year cycle could be scrapped from the post-2012 Future Tours Programme (FTP) to solve the players burn out issue which has been a major concern for member boards. But NZCPA and SACA feel it won't solve the problem and the ICC should concentrate on having a proper Test and ODI championship. "Scrapping the home and away compulsion alone without regulating the amount of cricket played won't solve the problem and may weaken the smaller countries further," Irish said. "The best solution would be to have a proper Test and ODI championship where each country plays a regulated amount of cricket. This also cuts down on meaningless matches and gives each match context and meaning for the fans and the players," he added. Mills echoed the views and said if something is not done to regulate the number of matches, top cricketers might be tempted to go freelance, which will make Tests a battle of the unequals. "It is our strong view that we cannot not adopt an FTP as it is currently drafted by the ICC and member boards. If the ICC do not immediately give Test and ODI cricket greater context and meaning through annual championships in both formats then they will be doing the game a huge disservice," Mills said. "International teams playing 11-12 months of the year in meaningless cricket will drive the best players and fans away from the game. There is too much international cricket and players will just freelance meaning Test cricket will no longer be the best versus the best. "We need annual championships that have less volume of cricket but greater meaning and we might find they are actually worth more commercially. It is the less equals more approach," he added.