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India will only play one warm-up game ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup in the US and the West Indies, marking a departure from their previous preparations for the ICC events in which they, invariably, played two warm-up matches.
The exact reason for the solitary game is a subject of speculation, but Cricbuzz understands that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has insisted on holding the match in New York, where the team will be based.
The organizers, the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Cricket West Indies (CWI), are believed to have proposed a warm-up game in Florida. However, the Indian players, fatigued from extensive travel and the highly demanding Indian Premier League (IPL), are reluctant to fly from New York to Florida and back for a single practice match.
India’s warm-up matches have high a commercial value and are always televised due to ample monetization opportunities. In 2015, an India-Australia warm-up match in Adelaide was broadcast in India but not in Australia. The ICC has indicated that the schedule will be released in the coming days. Most other teams, except Pakistan and England, are set to play two warm-up games each.
England and Pakistan are currently involved in a bilateral series, which concludes on May 30, leaving them insufficient time for warm-up matches. The World Cup commences on June 1, suggesting that warm-up games will likely take place from May 25-26, approximately 10-11 days from today.
The Indian team was initially scheduled to depart for New York on May 21, immediately after the conclusion of the IPL league stage. However, it has now been revealed that the team will depart in two batches, on May 25 and 26. Players participating in the IPL final on May 26 will depart on a later date.
India’s league matches in New York are scheduled for June 5 (vs Ireland), June 9 (vs Pakistan), and June 12 (vs United States). The final league match against Canada is set to take place in Florida on June 15, after which the team will travel to the West Indies for the Super Eight games.
