Lockdown delays payment to domestic players and officials from BCCI(Credits: Twitter/BCCI)

As the world prepares itself for a post COVID-19 return, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering playing simultaneous series (Test and T20I series) to make up for the cricket lost due to lockdown.

According to a report published by The Hindu BCCI may adopt an innovative path to make up for lost time by fielding two separate international white-ball and red-ball squads simultaneously.

“None of us know when sport, especially international cricket, will resume. But if we have to safeguard the interests of 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 Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official told The Hindu .

Taken up the idea with the coaching staff

Ravi Shastri with the Indian cricket team | Twitter @BCCI
BCCI has taken up its idea of simultaneous series with the coaching staff. (Credits: Twitter/BCCI)

The report noted that the cricket board has taken up the idea with its coaching staff, who are working on figuring in the possible separate red-ball and white-ball squads, if the board decides to host simultaneous series in a short cricket window.

If BCCI give shape to its incredible idea on the table, cricket fans could be in for a dual delight, with Tests during the day and T20I by the evening.

Not a new idea

In 2017, Australia had fielded two separate squads against Sri Lanka in T20I and against India in a Test match on consecutive days. Thus, if BCCI finally adopts the idea, it would become second team after Australia to field to two separate teams.

Last month, Eoin Morgan, limited-overs England captain, had also mooted a similar idea where he suggested that England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) should consider fielding two separate teams to make for the time loss due to covid-19 pandemic.

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