Despite the rapid rise of T20 leagues around the world, there is an increase in the amount of international cricket scheduled in the new ICC men’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) for the next four years. This includes two Border-Gavaskar Test series between Australia and India that will, for the first time in over 30 years, be contested over five Tests.
The ICC released the 2023-27 FTP on Wednesday, in which the 12 Full Members play a total of 777 international matches – 173 Tests, 281 ODIs and 323 T20Is – compared to the 694 games in the current cycle.
Tri-series between Full Members are also set to make a comeback, with Pakistan hosting New Zealand and South Africa in an ODI tri-series in February 2025, Zimbabwe hosting New Zealand and South Africa for T20Is in July 2025, and Pakistan hosting England and Sri Lanka for an ODI tri-series in October-November 2026.
In 2025, the Pakistan Super League will become the first T20 league to overlap with the IPL because of Pakistan’s packed international season. Starting November 2024, Pakistan have away tours of Australia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and New Zealand, before returning home for a tri-series in February 2025, followed by the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan that ends in March. The PSL will begin only after the Champions Trophy ends, leading to a clash with the IPL.