Ravi Shastri: Such tight scheduling gives the players little time to recuperate

India Cricket team will have a jam packed festive season this year that will stretch well beyond Christmas leaving the players hardly any time to recuperate. And team’s head coach Ravi Shastri has voiced his concern regarding the matter and has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India to be more considerate while scheduling games.

The suggestion was put forward during a video conference between Shastri, BCCI chief Rahul Johri, and the Supreme Court appointed CoA where Shastri stated, “Such tight scheduling gives the players little time to recuperate.”  

A BCCI source confirmed, “The international calendar is so tight these days and it’s not only the matches that take a toll on players’ body, but the long flights and travelling. Shastri has requested us to look into it, as he believes it would help players to recover faster.”

“England and Australia give enough gaps between series and the BCCI too should have a plan where players can get a decent break and recover better,” the source added.

During England’s tour to India in 2016, the ECB had ensured that the players get a ‘Christmas break’ between the series. India, on the other hand, will be busy playing New Zealand during Diwali this year. Not only Shastri, but India team manager Kapil Malhotra had also suggested a similar thing in his report to BCCI post Champions Trophy.

Indian team have just returned after their recent 9-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka across all formats and they are looking at three back-to-back home series against Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka before they tour South Africa later this year.

Australia are scheduled for a one month-long series from September 17 to October 13, where they play for five ODIs and three T20I. Four days after the Australia series, New Zealand will arrive for three ODIs and T20Is starting October 17 and ending on November 7.

Following that, India host Sri Lanka again in a week for a series slated from November 15 to December 24. Barely a week later, India will travel to South Africa on December 28 where they will play three T20s and three ODIs followed by four Test matches.