BCCI plans mandatory warm-up matches for future overseas cricket tours

The BCCI is implementing a policy requiring warm-up matches for the Indian cricket team before tours to South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia. Board secretary Devajit Saikia announced the decision following a recent review meeting in Mumbai, which included head coach Gautam Gambhir, Centre of Excellence head VVS Laxman, and captains Shubman Gill and Shreyal Iyer. The board intends to schedule these fixtures to provide players with sufficient time for rest and acclimatization. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra expressed support for the mandate but cautioned that the quality of opposition remains a significant concern. Chopra noted that county teams in SENA countries frequently field second-string sides, which reduces the competitive value of such preparatory matches. The BCCI plans to instruct Future Tours Programme personnel to coordinate these arrangements during upcoming international meetings to ensure adequate preparation time for the squad.

• 2:36 PMYahoo Sports — 'They play second-team players': Former India cricketer warns BCCI over SENA warm-up matches