Sourav Ganguly made to wait for ECB, CA go-ahead for 4-nation series

New Delhi, Feb 3:  Days after taking over as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President, Sourav Ganguly had announced that the BCCI is looking at a 4-nation series every year that would involve India, England, Australia and another top nation. The BCCI officials also had meetings with their counterparts in the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA). But looks like Ganguly will have to wait before getting the ECB and CA's thumbs up.

Speaking to IANS, BCCI sources in the know of developments said that the Indian board is yet to get the complete go-ahead from Cricket Australia as well as the English board with regards to the 4-nation tournament that it wishes to start from 2021.

"We are looking at the 4-nation series and our officials have also had a word with the ECB officials in December as well as the Cricket Australia officials when they were here in January. But, there are certain reservations and issues that need sorting before we can go ahead and enter the next stage of planning. We may need to wait a little," the source revealed.

The ECB after the December meeting had issue a statement which said: "We meet regularly with other leaders from the major cricketing nations to share learnings and discuss topics that impact our sport. A four-nation tournament was raised at a meeting with the BCCI in December and we are open to discussions with other ICC members to see if this concept can develop."

Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts had also sounded optimistic and even spoke about how Ganguly has looked to be innovative with his planning.

"I think it's an example of the innovative thinking coming out of the BCCI with Sourav Ganguly as president," Roberts had said.

"In his very short time, only a couple of months, we have already seen India commit to and host a day-night Test in Kolkata, so a brilliant result there and now a suggestion around the Super Series, another potential innovation."

But Australia coach Justin Langer had made it clear that the hectic scheduling could be a concern if a new concept is added to the calendar from 2021. "It is. We all understand the schedule in world cricket is really tight, so I am sure there will be lots of negotiation and there are people, that's their role to negotiate and get that right. But we all know it is a tight schedule," Langer was quoted as saying in the Australia media.

The proposed event will also need the approval of the ICC as it involves more than three teams and is currently not part of the international body's FTP. The ICC is keen on organising one flagship tournament every year during next eight-year FTP cycle (2023-2031), but the BCCI is not on the same page with the international body.