The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a cash reward of INR 131 crore for Team India following their triumphant campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

India lifted the prestigious trophy after defeating New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, successfully defending the title and becoming the first team in the history of the tournament to retain the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. 

With this victory, India also became the first team to win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup three times, further cementing their place among the most successful teams in the history of the format.

“The Board congratulates the players, support staff and selectors once again on this historic achievement and wishes them continued success in the future,” the BCCI said in a statement. (Newswire)

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West Indies legend Sir Andy Roberts has declared “India can’t get everything”, slamming their perceived “advantage” by playing in Dubai during their ICC Champions Trophy victory.

India securing the title with a four-wicket win over New Zealand, playing all of their games in Dubai despite the tournament being hosted by Pakistan.

The BCCI’s reasoning behind the move was that the Indian government had refused their cricket team permission to travel to Pakistan, with tensions between the neighbouring countries running high.

“Something’s got to give… India can’t get everything,” Roberts said on Mid-Day.

“At the Champions Trophy, India did not have to travel at all. How can a team not travel during a tournament? It is not fair, it’s not cricket.

“There has to be a level playing field. I know a lot of money comes from India, but cricket ought not to be a one-country sport.

“It now looks like a one-nation competition and the playing field is not level.”

Roberts went on to say that the “ICC stands for Indian Cricket Board”.

“India dictates everything. If tomorrow, India says, ‘listen there should be no no-balls and wides,’ take my word, the ICC will find a way to satisfy India,” he said.

Outside of criticism levelled at the BCCI, the Pakistan Cricket Board was also slammed for their failure to send a representative to the final.

According to Times of India, Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the PCB, was unable to attend due to illness, while others also failed to attend.

Pakistan legend Shoaib Akhtar took to Twitter with a video to voice his frustrations.

India has won the ICC Champions Trophy today but I noticed something strange. Pakistan were the hosts in the tournament but there were no representatives here,” he said.

“This is beyond my understanding. Why was there no one to represent us and give the trophy? Please think about it, it’s a world stage but sadly I could not see any PCG members.” (Fox Sports)

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken a significant step by announcing the schedules for the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the next three seasons.

This is a departure from the usual practice of releasing schedules closer to the tournament.

The 2025 IPL will commence on March 14 and conclude on May 25.

The BCCI has also finalized the schedules for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

This early announcement reflects the IPL’s growing prominence and its established window in the international cricket calendar. It allows for better planning for both franchises and players.

In another important development, the BCCI has confirmed the availability of England fast bowler Jofra Archer for the entirety of the next three IPL seasons, as per a Cricbuzz report. This news is sure to excite franchises vying for his service.

Archer, known for his pace and skill, has committed to playing all the matches in the upcoming seasons.

Archer has set his base price at INR 2 crore for the auction. Interestingly, he has been listed as Player No. 575 in the accelerated round. He is included in the accelerated list alongside USA’s Saurabh Netravalkar (No. 576) and MCA’s Hardik Tamore (No. 577).

The structured scheduling and confirmation of key players highlight the IPL’s increasing significance as a global cricketing force. (Times of India)

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering introducing a Tier-2 cricket league as early as 2024, inspired by the success of the Indian Premier League (IPL) introduced 15 years ago, people familiar with the developments said.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah is working on a blueprint for the proposed league, and stakeholders, including potential sponsors, are giving a big thumbs up to the idea, the people said, requesting anonymity. The board has identified a window between September and October to slot the new cricket league.

The introduction of the IPL in 2008 elevated cricket’s popularity with its fast-paced T20 format. The IPL drew global talent to India, fostered a loyal fan base, and generated massive revenue for the board through sponsorships and broadcasting rights. Its success spurred other nations to start similar leagues, boosting the game’s appeal globally.

The BCCI is considering the T10 format for the Tier-2 cricket league, acknowledging the role the shortest version of the game could play in driving the popularity of the sport.

The cricket body is currently deliberating on several issues related to the proposed league, including:

1. a) Should they go ahead with the idea of a T10 league or stick to T20 (the current proposal, though, is for T10)?
2. b) Should the league have an age cap for the players so that the new property doesn’t eat into the popularity of the IPL?
3. c) Should the franchises for this new league be sold through a separate tender process or can the existing IPL franchises be given the right of first refusal (there’s a mention of it in the existing contracts)?
4. d) Should the proposed tournament be played in India or have a new venue every year?

As far as the existing contracts between the BCCI and the IPL franchise owners are concerned, it is understood that the franchises have the right of first refusal to any business model that the BCCI wishes to launch that is ‘similar’ to the IPL. Those in the know say the BCCI may wish to respect that clause.

Key focus

The important call the BCCI must take is whether the new tournament should have an age bracket. “Else, what’s the guarantee that it will not begin to eat into IPL’s popularity over the years? Right now, the IPL’s biggest strengths are a) It caters to Indian prime-time like no other cricket property; b) The world’s best white-ball cricketers participate in the league; and c) Corporate India looks forward to spending big on the league at multiple levels, thus ensuring the upkeep of the property’s central revenue model.

“Whenever the BCCI decides to launch a new property, points a and c will always continue to remain the same given that cricket sells like no other product in India. It is point b that the BCCI might want to think twice about,” say those tracking developments.

Should the cricket board go ahead with these plans – and it is learned that the idea is to move ahead in all seriousness – bilateral cricket, as we know it, will change within the next two years. Marquee bilateral red-ball properties such as the Ashes, India v England, India v Australia, and even India v South Africa, among a few others, will survive while the rest of the calendar will begin to veer towards franchise cricket.

‘Cusp of inevitability’ 

Right now, there are cricket boards that aren’t earning enough from the sale of home bilateral rights that will allow them to sustain in the long run. A potential revenue-sharing model with the BCCI could help these boards on the financial front. “But if that happens, it could signal the death of 50-over cricket sooner than one thinks,” say those fearing the ‘inevitable’.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – looking to boost tourism – has already shown major interest in partnering with Indian cricket. A traveling tournament, looking for a host nation in the Gulf to fuel its future finances, is the kind of infusion a newly proposed property may need.

The only cricketing body that will be in the position to stand on their legs is the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) because the summer months in the UK allow them to position themselves uniquely, given the weather patterns in the lower hemisphere during those months. (News 18)

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The Sri Lankan Government today officially expressed its regret to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Jay Shah over the statement made by former Captain Arjuna Ranatunga blaming him for the downfall of Sri Lanka Cricket.

Speaking in Parliament today, both Ministers Harin Fernando and Kanchana Wijesekara expressed their regret over the matter and said that the blame is on Sri Lankan administrators, not the outside world.

“We as a Government express our regret to the Asian Cricket Council Cheif Jay Shah. We cannot point hands at the Asian Cricket Council Secretary or other countries for the shortcomings of our institutions. It is a wrong assumption,” Minister Wijesekera said. 

Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has reached out to the BCCI Secretary Jay Shah to discuss the International Cricket Council (ICC) ban imposed on Sri Lanka Cricket.

Minister Harin Fernando warned that the ICC ban on Sri Lanka Cricket is detrimental to the nation, as it will affect the upcoming under-19 cricket world cup scheduled for January next year.

“If the ICC ban is not lifted no one will visit Sri Lanka for the tournament. Sri Lanka will also not earn a single penny from the cricket tournament,” he said. 

Further commenting on the matter, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said the President has authorized the Ministerial Sub-Committee, headed by Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, to discuss the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) issue with the ICC. 

Minister Wijesekera further said that accordingly, the committee has requested the ICC for a meeting. 

Explaining the task of the committee, the minister said the committee is responsible for studying the current crisis surrounding the SLC and providing the necessary recommendations for required changes.

“We have held relevant discussions with the representatives of the SLC and Sports Ministry. However, our primary responsibility is to work towards lifting the ban imposed by the ICC,” he said. 

Minister Wijesekera further said the ICC ban not only affects the men’s national team, it also affects the women’s team, and the under-21 and under-19 teams, not allowing the cricketers to move forward.

Earlier this month (Nov), the International Cricket Council’s Board announced it had suspended Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership of the ICC with immediate effect.

“The ICC Board met today and determined that Sri Lanka Cricket is in serious breach of its obligations as a Member, in particular, the requirement to manage its affairs autonomously and ensure that there is no government interference in the governance, regulation and/or administration of cricket in Sri Lanka,” the ICC said in a statement.

The suspension comes following an escalating spat between the SLC and Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe. (NewsWire)

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