BCCI mulling fielding two teams simultaneously post coronavirus pandemic
Xtra Time Web Desk: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is contemplating the idea of fielding two teams simultaneously once the situation improves post the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it is too early to decide anything on such lines but definitely it is one of the alternatives thought by the BCCI hierarchy. According to a board official quoted by Sportstar, “None of us know when sport, especially international cricket will resume. But if we have to safeguard all our stakeholders – from sponsors to spectators – one of the options is to select two different squads and play a Test series and a T20I series simultaneously.” It will not be the first time such an approach will be adopted by any cricket boards. Cricket Australia adopted a similar policy in 2017. A day after hosting Sri Lanka in a T20I at the Adelaide Oval on February 22, 2017, the Australian test team took on India in the first test match of the four test match series in Pune from February 23, 2017. Two different Australian squads participated in two different series, something that BCCI and possibly other boards as well - may be forced to think in the future. The Coronavirus pandemic has stopped all sporting actions around the globe and cricket is no exception. A lot of international series have already been postponed and it remains to be seen how the lost time is adjusted post the pandemic. So in order to squeeze in as many matches, fielding two different teams across different formats could be an option. If such an alternative is adopted by BCCI, the fans could get to see two Indian teams participating in two formats on the same day.
