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| ICC Future Tours Programme | |
|---|---|
| Name | ICC Future Tours Programme |
| Administrator | International Cricket Council |
| Cricket format | Test cricket, One Day International, Twenty20 International |
| First | 2006–2009 cycle |
| Tournaments | Bilateral international cricket tours |
| Related | ICC World Test Championship, ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC T20 World Cup |
ICC Future Tours Programme The ICC Future Tours Programme is a scheduled cycle of bilateral and multilateral international cricket tours that organizes Test cricket, One Day International, and Twenty20 International fixtures among member boards of the International Cricket Council. It underpins global cricket calendars, links to the ICC World Test Championship, aligns with the Cricket World Cup qualification pathways, and coordinates with major bilateral rivalries such as Ashes series, India–Pakistan cricket rivalry, and Border–Gavaskar Trophy commitments.
The programme was created by the International Cricket Council to provide predictability for national boards like the Board of Control for Cricket in India, England and Wales Cricket Board, and Cricket Australia, and for competitions such as the ICC Cricket World Cup and ICC World Test Championship. It establishes multi-year windows for tours involving nations including India national cricket team, Australia national cricket team, England cricket team, Pakistan national cricket team, Sri Lanka national cricket team, Bangladesh national cricket team, South Africa national cricket team, New Zealand national cricket team, and associate members like Ireland cricket team and Afghanistan national cricket team.
The Future Tours Programme emerged in the mid-2000s following meetings at ICC headquarters and policy discussions influenced by stakeholders such as the Marylebone Cricket Club, national selectors, and commercial partners like International Management Group. Early cycles (2006–2009) formalized bilateral commitments among traditional powers including West Indies cricket team, Zimbabwe national cricket team, and Netherlands national cricket team. Subsequent iterations were reshaped by events like the expansion of the ICC T20 World Cup, the introduction of the ICC World Test Championship, and geopolitical issues affecting tours to venues in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Administrative reforms within the International Cricket Council and changes in broadcasting rights held by companies such as Sky Sports, Star India, and Network Ten also influenced scheduling priorities.
The programme is structured into multi-year cycles, negotiated between national cricket boards including Cricket South Africa, Cricket West Indies, Cricket Australia, and New Zealand Cricket. Each board submits windows for home and away series covering Test cricket, One Day International, and Twenty20 International formats. Scheduling must consider events like the Indian Premier League, Big Bash League, Pakistan Super League, and continental events such as the Asia Cup and European Cricket Championship. Major venues including Lord's, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Eden Gardens, Gaddafi Stadium, Wankhede Stadium, and Kensington Oval feature centrally. Coordination also ties into qualification for tournaments hosted by federations like the Asian Cricket Council and African Cricket Association.
The programme has standardized bilateral relationships among boards such as the Board of Control for Cricket in India, England and Wales Cricket Board, and Cricket Australia, enabling commercial deals with broadcasters like ESPNcricinfo partners and sponsors including PepsiCo and Nike. It has influenced player workload management for individuals like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara, Joe Root, Virat Kohli, and Steve Smith by concentrating tours into defined windows. The FTP has also affected venues, travel logistics, and development pathways for associate nations like Scotland national cricket team, Kenya national cricket team, and Canada national cricket team.
Critics from boards such as Cricket South Africa and commentators like Ian Chappell have argued the programme favors financially dominant boards including Board of Control for Cricket in India and England and Wales Cricket Board, impacting competitive balance. Controversies have arisen over tour cancellations linked to security incidents in Pakistan and diplomatic tensions involving India and Pakistan, and over conflicts with franchise competitions like the Indian Premier League. Debates around prioritizing Tests versus limited overs, as highlighted by former players like Shane Warne and Graeme Smith, and administrative disputes involving Marylebone Cricket Club committees have persisted. Scheduling clashes with multi-sport events such as the Commonwealth Games and national commitments have also been contentious.
Significant FTP cycles include the 2006–09 launch that formalized many established rivalries, the 2012–15 cycle which accommodated the expansion of T20 cricket and the ICC T20 World Cup, and the 2019–23 cycle which integrated the inaugural ICC World Test Championship final at The Oval and scheduling around the 2019 Cricket World Cup. High-profile tour outcomes shaped rankings and trophy contests such as the Ashes series results between England cricket team and Australia national cricket team, the Border–Gavaskar Trophy contests between India national cricket team and Australia national cricket team, and restoration of tours to Pakistan national cricket team grounds like National Stadium, Karachi following security clearances.
Reform proposals involve stronger integration with the ICC World Test Championship points system, greater guarantees for associate nations like Netherlands national cricket team and Nepal national cricket team, and calendar harmonization with franchise leagues such as the Big Bash League and Caribbean Premier League. Suggestions from boards including Cricket Ireland and governance bodies like the Marylebone Cricket Club include revenue-sharing models that could affect deals with broadcasters such as Star Sports and Sky Sports. Potential impacts of global events like COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical shifts may prompt adaptive scheduling, while innovations in formats championed by influencers like Shane Watson could change future cycles.
Category:International cricket competitions