BCCI's Apex Council to finalise central contracts, tentative domestic cricket schedule and discuss state associations' collaboration with foreign boards

The Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) Apex Council Meeting is scheduled to be held on March 18, 2024, just a few days before the Indian Premier League's (IPL) tournament opener. The BCCI is yet to finalise the time and venue for the meeting. 
 

The main item on the agenda is the finalisation of the player contracts for the senior men cricketers which was recently revealed. For the period between October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were not considered whereas the selection committee suggested five names for the fast-bowling contract which has been introduced for the first time by the board. 
 

Update on new NCAs

In the meeting, an update on the progress of the New Cricket Academy will be given as well. Last year, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said that the new NCAs will be known as the 'Centre of Excellence'. NCAs in several states were proposed.

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There will be a discussion on policy for state cricket associations collaborating with foreign boards for organising cricket. There will be an update on oragnisations from union territories that demanded associate memberships from the board. 
 

Schedule for domestic cricket

In addition, there will be a discussion on the tentative schedule for the next season of domestic cricket. Earlier this week, Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur who scored his maiden first-class century in the Ranji Trophy semifinal for Mumbai against Tamil Nadu expressed his disappointment over the tight schedule. 
 

Thakur said that a break of three days between the matches is not ideal and will lead to injuries if the schedule is similar for the next season as well. He recalled when he used to play domestic cricket regularly seven to eight years ago when the break between the games was longer. 
 

“It's difficult because we are playing first-class games in (a) three days' gap — that has never happened in Ranji Trophy season ever,” Thakur told the reporters at BKC Ground, Mumbai.
 

“You know the schedule is becoming tighter and tighter. If boys keep playing like this for two more seasons, there will be a lot of injuries across the country.
 

“Next year, they (the BCCI) have to re-look at it and give more break,” he added.
 

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