BCCI contemplates fielding two Indian teams simultaneously post COVID-19

Cricket could see a number of changes in the post COVID-19 world.

Once COVID-19 pandemic subsides, cricket could see a number of changes. The talks around the ban on saliva, sweat to shine the cricket ball have already begun and the players might also avoid the handshakes, wild celebrations, group hugs during the field of play.

It has been close to two months since any form of international cricket was last played. No wonder, cricket boards have started to feel the financial crisis and exploring options to safeguard the upcoming lucrative fixtures.

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In order to make up for the lost time, the BCCI is considering fielding two Indian teams simultaneously in Test and the white-ball formats.

“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,” a BCCI official, on the condition of anonymity, told Sportstar.

If the broadcasters pressurize BCCI to squeeze in too many games in a limited window, it will have to field two different squads.

According to Sportstar, some board members have been working on crunching numbers to keep two strong squads at their disposal.

If BCCI adopts this innovative measure, India would be the second team after Australia to virtually play two different series simultaneously.

In February 2017, a day after hosting Sri Lanka in a T20I at the Adelaide, Australia started the four-Test series in India with the opening fixture in Pune. The line-ups of both the Aussie sides were different.