Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has criticized the Indian Premier League (IPL) schedule, arguing that it hinders India’s preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup. With England’s players unavailable for the IPL 2024 playoffs due to T20 World Cup commitments, Singh believes the BCCI should prioritize national team training camps ahead of major tournaments.
Singh, who was speaking on Star Sports, lamented the IPL’s schedule and said that it is difficult to have everyone together to play a few matches. He suggested that the BCCI should follow the England Cricket Board’s template of providing the national team with 4-5 matches against top teams like England or Australia in preparation for the tournament.
“I think with this IPL scheduling, it is difficult to have everyone together to play a few matches. But yes, we have two games in America before the tournament starts,” Singh said.
“Yes, I believe it would have been better for them to have 4-5 games, you know collectively playing against some top team like England or Australia in America, just to get used to those conditions. But that doesn’t seem to be happening. But now, whatever small window we have, those two games, we have to make the best use of it. Going forward, it is a great suggestion. When you are playing a tournament like the World Cup or WTC, the team should play together for 10-15 days, it will be better,” he added.
India begin their T20 World Cup campaign on June 5, and are placed in Group A with Canada, Ireland, Pakistan and USA. India open their campaign against Ireland on June 5, at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
India have not won an ICC trophy since 2013, and Singh believes that the BCCI needs to do more to support the national team in their preparation for major tournaments.
