International Cricket Calendar Explained
The Future Tours Programme governs international cricket schedules. This guide covers how the ICC cricket calendar works, bilateral series, window conflicts with franchise leagues, and the volume debate.
The Future Tours Programme (FTP)
The Future Tours Programme is the ICC's master schedule for international cricket — it determines which countries tour each other, when, and in what formats across a four-year planning horizon. Every series in the FTP is negotiated between the host board and visiting board, taking into account TV rights, commercial agreements, and player welfare. The FTP creates the formal structure of bilateral international cricket.
Volume of Cricket: A Growing Problem
The total amount of international cricket has grown dramatically since the 1990s. Top players now face 12-14 months of cricket per year from FTP commitments alone — before adding domestic franchise obligations. England's schedule in 2024 included Tests, ODIs, T20Is, The Hundred, and county cricket obligations that collectively demanded over 200 days of cricket from their top 15 players.
ICC Events in the Calendar
ICC events — World Cups, Champions Trophy, World Test Championship — sit above bilateral series in scheduling priority. Nations must make their players available for ICC events regardless of franchise league schedules. The ICC maintains dedicated windows in the calendar for its own major tournaments, typically in February-March or October-November.
Franchise League Conflicts
The IPL runs from late March to May — historically conflicting with England's home season start and Australia's domestic cricket. Cricket boards negotiate NOC (No Objection Certificates) for players to participate in overseas franchise leagues. The BCCI's refusal to grant NOCs for Indian players to play other leagues is why India's players are only ever available for the IPL. Other boards grant NOCs with varying restrictions.
Player Workload Management
Managing the physical and mental load from the modern cricket calendar is one of the biggest challenges in the sport. Boards have begun using rotation policies — resting key players from some series to protect them for peak events. England rests key players from bilateral white-ball series before major ICC events. Australia manages Pat Cummins' workload across all three formats to protect their most important bowler.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Future Tours Programme in cricket?
The Future Tours Programme (FTP) is the ICC's master schedule for international cricket, governing which nations tour each other, in what formats, and when — across a four-to-eight-year planning horizon.
Why do boards grant NOCs for franchise leagues?
A No Objection Certificate (NOC) allows a player contracted to their national board to play for a franchise in another country's domestic competition. Boards grant NOCs to support players' commercial earning opportunities and to avoid legal disputes over player employment.
Is there too much cricket being played?
Many analysts, players, and commentators argue yes — the volume of international and franchise cricket creates unsustainable workloads. Player welfare issues, mental health concerns, and quality dilution of bilateral series are all cited as consequences of the expanding cricket calendar.