The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering launching a mini-IPL tournament, which could extend the already existing two-month Indian Premier League (IPL) season to a 14-week tournament. A longer and extended IPL season could generate more revenue and will be more beneficial for all the teams. Although a final call is yet to be taken on the matter, reports claimed that the BCCI general body will take a call on the same in the future. A lengthy IPL cricket season will not only mean more revenue for the franchise teams but also more entertainment for the fans although fatigue of the cricketers after a full-year of cricket should be kept in mind. IPL 2020 Player Auction to Go Ahead in Kolkata on December 19 Despite Protests Over Citizenship Amendment Act.

According to a report from the Indian Express, the apex Indian cricket body is looking on options to utilise the 15-20 days Champions League window with some sort of a mini-IPL tournament. The Champions League was an inter-franchise T20 tournament organized by the BCCI some months after the conclusion of the IPL season. Teams from around the globe participated in the franchise cricket tournament which was last played in 2014 and has since been discarded. But according to the National Daily, the cricket board is looking to get back that window for another cricket tournament or an extended IPL. The matter was discussed in the BCCI-IPL governing council meeting held earlier this year on November 5.

“The Champions League (CLT20) used to be played during the Sep/Oct window of around 15-20 days, however, CLT20 was discontinued five years ago, the last event being the CLT20-2014,” Hemang Amin, IPL chief-operating officer was quoted by the daily as saying to league’s governing council. “The Asia Cup, which is another event hosted every alternate year, was generally played during June, however after CLT20 was discontinued the Asia Cup is now played during the CLT20 window of Sep/Oct and ICC has also scheduled the T20 World Cup in 2020 (Australia) and 2021 (India) around the same time.

“Since the Sep/Oct was CLT20 window, BCCI should look at utilizing this as a 2nd IPL window so the existing teams can have a longer participation instead of the two months and this will also entail that BCCI creates a new revenue stream which will be beneficial for the teams, BCCI and extension of brand IPL,” he added.

Meanwhile, the BCCI-IPL governing council also discussed on the possibilities of playing IPL friendlies with ICC associate cricket nations, like Afghanistan, Nepal and Scotland in the months of July and August to spread and preach the league across the world. Amin though was conspicuous of such a move. “Till date, no such friendlies have been played," he said.

"Teams have requested that IPL teams be allowed to play IPL friendlies against each other at an overseas location instead of playing against an ICC associate member as this will help explore the brand IPL outside of India and it will draw interest amongst the Indian diaspora and give them an opportunity to see IPL teams in action outside of India,” Amin said at the meeting.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 17, 2019 11:46 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).