Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) held its 19th Apex Council meeting on Friday, revealing crucial decisions regarding player participation, tournament formats, and a comprehensive plan for upgrading cricket stadiums across the country. The meeting addressed several key aspects of Indian cricket, with a particular focus on the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, set to be hosted entirely in India for the first time ever.
One of the notable decisions made by the BCCI is the formulation of a policy that will regulate the participation of players, including retired players, in overseas T20 leagues. This move aims to strike a balance between player opportunities and the national team’s commitments.
In another significant development, both the men’s and women’s teams will represent India at the Asian Games scheduled to be held in September 2023 in Hangzhou, China. However, due to a scheduling clash with the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, the BCCI will select players who are not participating in the World Cup to participate in the Asian Games.
The BCCI also announced its decision to continue the concept of impact players in the upcoming season of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with some modifications. Teams will now have to select their playing XI along with four substitute players before the toss, and the impact players can be utilised at any time during the match. This alteration aims to introduce more strategic options for teams and enhance the competitiveness of the tournament.
To ensure a balanced contest between bat and ball, the BCCI has decided to allow two bouncers per over in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, a change that will add an extra dimension to the game and provide bowlers with more opportunities to challenge the batsmen.
In line with preparations for the Cricket World Cup 2023, the BCCI announced a comprehensive plan for the upgrade of cricket stadiums in the country. The upgrade process will be carried out in two phases. The first phase will focus on upgrading the venues chosen for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, ensuring that the necessary work is completed before the tournament commences. The second phase will involve the upgrading of the remaining venues, further improving the infrastructure for future matches.
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is set to be the largest tournament to date, featuring ten teams competing across ten venues from October 5 to November 19. The tournament will consist of 48 matches, including a highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan on October 15 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The round-robin format from the previous edition will be retained, with all teams playing against each other in 45 league matches. Day-night fixtures, starting at 14:00 IST, will be implemented for all matches, including the knockout stage.
The top four teams from the league stage will qualify for the semi-finals, which will be held in Mumbai on November 15 and in Kolkata on November 16. Both the semi-finals and the final will have reserve days to accommodate any unforeseen circumstances.
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