Legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar has called upon the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to act on captain Virat Kohli's complaint regarding the increasingly cramped scheduling of matches. Urging the Indian think tank to start preparing for challenging overseas tours much beforehand, the iconic opener also wanted the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) to involve themselves in administrative affairs as well.
"South Africa series announcement was very late and it hasn't helped Indian cricket. For next year's Australia and New Zealand tours, the planning has to be done now. In Australia, the Indian team should play at least three three-day (warm-up) matches", Gavaskar told NDTV.
Imploring the Cricket Advisory Committee (comprising of Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly) to play an active role in administrative matters as well, the 68-year old added, "CAC has to come into the administrative picture as well. CAC is not there only to choose coaches, they should be asked to take part in administrative work too."
The background
Ahead of the second Test match against Sri Lanka at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur, skipper Kohli had complained of the packed schedule laid out for the Indian team. Acting BCCI President CK Khanna promised that the board will take Kohli's views with 'utmost seriousness'.
The heart of the matter
Kohli's concerns revolve around India's upcoming tour of South Africa. After the conclusion of the ongoing Nagpur Test, they will complete the 3-match series early next month in Delhi. The 'Men in Blue' are then slated to take on Sri Lanka for 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is for the vast majority of December. The last of those matches are scheduled to end on the 24th.
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Due to the cramped calendar, Kohli's troops get only a couple of days rest before embarking on their flight to South Africa on the 27th. With not much time available to prepare for the demanding tour, the Indian team management have already begun preparing for the shift in conditions by rolling out green-tinged bouncy tracks in the home series against Sri Lanka.
What's next?
Owing to time constraints, India will only get a two-day warm-up match in Paarl before diving into the Test series. The 3-match series is slated to begin on January 5 at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town.
Author's take
Considering the stern challenge awaiting them in South Africa, BCCI should have scheduled the Sri Lanka series in a manner which could have allowed the Indian team to land early in the Rainbow Nation. But the lack of breathing room in the cramped calendar means that the Indian players are now in danger of entering a demanding series without getting acclimatized to the conditions properly.
