ICC Future Tours Programme: How International Cricket Is Scheduled
The ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP) determines which teams tour each other and when — learn how it works, who benefits, and why it is considered one of cricket's most important governance tools.
What Is the FTP?
The ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP) is a multi-year schedule of all international cricket — Tests, ODIs, and T20Is — agreed between the ICC and its member boards. It specifies which teams tour each other, in which countries, and in which years. The current FTP cycle covers 2023–2027.
How It Is Constructed
The FTP is negotiated through the ICC Members' Committee. Boards submit preferences for home series, and the ICC mediates to create a schedule that gives each Full Member a minimum number of home Tests per cycle. Bilateral agreements between boards — especially between India (BCCI) and other nations — carry significant weight due to the commercial value of Indian broadcast rights.
What the FTP Guarantees
- A minimum number of home Test matches for Full Members per cycle
- A guaranteed home-and-away bilateral series against most major cricket nations
- Clear scheduling windows that help boards plan domestic cricket, broadcaster contracts, and ticket sales
- Alignment with ICC World Test Championship points cycles, Champions Trophy, and World Cup windows
Criticisms of the FTP
- Associates (non-Full Members like USA, Netherlands) receive far fewer guaranteed fixtures
- Commercial power of India means the BCCI has disproportionate influence over scheduling
- The FTP prioritises the Big Three (India, England, Australia) in terms of bilateral match volume
- Some scheduled series are cancelled or rearranged for political and security reasons — the FTP then becomes a target not a guarantee
- Over-scheduling produces player burnout, as boards try to fit maximum bilateral cricket into the FTP windows
Frequently asked questions
What happens if a series is cancelled after being in the FTP?
Both boards typically agree to reschedule the series elsewhere in the FTP cycle. If cancellation is unilateral (one board refuses without reason), ICC regulations may allow compensation claims. High-profile cancellations (Pakistan-India, Sri Lanka security concerns) have historically been resolved through renegotiation.
Can a team host more than one bilateral series in a season?
Yes — the FTP is structured to allow boards to host multiple series in a home season. Australia might host India for Tests and Bangladesh for T20Is in the same summer without conflict.
Is the FTP publicly available?
Yes. The ICC publishes the FTP on its website, and national cricket boards also make their fixture calendars public. The exact match dates are typically confirmed closer to the time of each series by the hosting board.