Responsibility to avoid player burn-out with individual boards: ICC

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Margao, Apr 2 (UNI) The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that the five-year Futures Tour Programme (FTP) would be stretched to six years, even as it said that the individual boards have to take care of palyer burn-outs.

Addressing a press conference here today, ICC President Ehsan Mani said the FTP was extended to reduce the work load on the international players, though the main responsibility in this respect would lie on the individual boards.

He said according to the new programme, the iconic series like between India and Pakistan and the Ashes would be played on a four-yearcycle, while for other countries, it would be mandatory that each country plays the other nine Test playing nations at least once at home and away in the six-year cycle.

When asked if the boards can fill up vacant time with other series, Mani said that it would be he responsibility of the individual boards to take care of their players.

The ICC chief expressed reservations on India and Pakistan playing too often on neutral venues, saying that this might reduce the importance of an India-Pakistan circket match.

Mani pointed out that though ICC has put a limit of 30 ODIs in a year, India would be playing around 40 next year.

''We brought up the issue with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and they told us that the Indian players have agreed to the schedule. Therefore, I say it is important for the individual boards themselves to show more responsibility and avoid player burn-outs.'' He also came down hard on the BCCI, saying that there is an urgent need for the Indian board to professionalise its working.

He, however, added that he was pleased to learn from BCCI chief Sharad Pawar that the Indian board had hired a company which would advice them on how to go about in its endeavour for making it a professional body.

Mani also announced that there would be an international Twenty20 event in 2009, but said that not more than two Twenty20 matches would be played during a series.

UNI GS MAZ PDS RAI2050

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