Hectic 2000-2001 schedule ahead for Indians

There was a time when the Indian cricket season was more orderly. The domestic season would last roughly six months and for the remaining six months it would be off season. Unless of course there was a tour to the West Indies or England which came about once in many years. This was true even upto the 70s.

The proliferation of one day cricket in the 80s changed all this. And in the 90s it virtually became cricket round the year for the Indian team. If, for example, someone had suggested in the 50s or 60s that there would be an international game played in Chennai in the heat and humidity of May, people would have laughed. And yet on May 21, 1997, India and Pakistan squared off at the MA Chidambaram stadium for an Independence Cup match. It matters little that it was a day-night game.

Even by the standards of some recent years, the 1999-2000 season was really heavy. The Indians played the last match in Dhaka a few days ago. While the interval will hardly be for a little over two months, players like Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble will not even have this break, pre-occupied as they are by their county engagements. And before one knows it, the 2000-2001 season will be upon us. Indeed, a busy schedule has already been planned for the season with the possibility of the Indian team's participation in one or two other one day tournaments not ruled out.

The break could have been shorter for the Indian team was scheduled to play in a tri series tournament in Singapore from August 20. But the BCCI informed the Singapore Cricket Association that the team would not be taking part. Probably this is in response to growing criticism against the policy of playing too many one day internationals. So now the season will start for the players with the annual five match series against Pakistan in Toronto in September.

The Toronto series, which was originally to end with his year's edition, will be held next year too following last year's rescheduled series of matches between Pakistan and West Indies. This was in the aftermath of the Kargis crisis when the Indian government advised the BCCI not to play against Pakistan.

The matches in Toronto would be followed by a visit to Sharjah in the last week of October for the tri series featuring India, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. India would then play host to a two Test and five match limited overs international series against Zimababwe in November- December before taking on Australia at home in a three Test series followed by a five match limited overs series. This will be held in February-March 2001.

The series against Australia will be followed by another visit to Sharjah in April for another tri series featuring India and Pakistan as two of the teams. The third team is as yet undecided but according to BCCI secretary JY Lele, it will in all probability be West Indies.

In between the home engagements against Zimbabwe and Australia, India may visit Pakistan to play one Test and a one day international series too if the BCCI gets the green signal from the government. According to Lele, ``The Pakistan Board is very keen that India play at least a two Test and five match one day series.''

India would also be playing in the ICC knock out tournament scheduled to be held in Nairobi before the Sharjah tri series. ``It is likely to be held between October 12 and 20,'' according to Lele. It may be recalled that the first ICC knock out tournament was held in Dhaka in 1998 and was won by South Africa.

This means that the Indian team has its hands full from September 2000 to April 2001. But given the scenario of the last few years, one would not be surprised if the season is extended or if some matches are added in between. One thing is sure. Given the hectic schedule, the participation of the leading players in the domestic circuit is again doubtful.