The IPL Governing Council has temporarily put on hold the proposal of multiple franchises wanting to play a "mini-tournament" or friendly matches abroad since it would require more detailed study of ICC's Futures Tours Programme (FTP), claims a PTI report.
Just like the football clubs, who travel to the Asian countries before the start of the season to promote the game and expand their fan base, at least two IPL franchises Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have been looking to do the same.
As the matter came up for discussion, a senior IPL governing council member said: "it's been discussed and the matter has been filed".
"The issue of allowing IPL franchises to play 'frendlies' was also discussed in the meeting but a final call would be taken only after seeing the ICC Future Tours Programme," he said.
"We have to check the FTP. We are looking at a small tournament or friendlies for the franchises. We are playing now in March, April and May and after that they have nothing. We want to popularise the game abroad as well, but we have to see the FTP and it is subject to that," he added.
However, another Governing Council member asserted that the current IPL constitution doesn't allow franchises to play against each other on a foreign location.
"IPL franchises can play a friendly against Somerset, Durham or Middlesex or Adelaide Strikers. That provision is there but there is no provision for two IPL teams playing friendlies abroad. For that the modalities of broadcast rights need to be changed and it's not an easy thing," said the member.
"We can't talk about the future but it is not happening right now. Also some of the bigger teams will not be able to avail their top India players, who will be on a 15-day break post IPL and then play remainder of the bilateral T20s leading upto the World T20. Also you need to factor in workload," he continued.
(With PTI inputs)
