Australia men's FTP takeaways - BBL window, the Afghanistan question and home Tests in March

Amid the rapidly changing landscape created by T20 leagues, the ICC has announced the men's Future Tours Programme (FTP) for the next four years. Australia will play India more than ever, but beyond that there are other noteworthy elements to how the schedule has played out after lengthy negotiations.

Mind the BBL gap
Cricket Australia have made the BBL a top priority under new chairman Lachlan Henderson with a fresh broadcast deal looming in 2024. It has faced numerous hurdles recently with the proliferation of rival leagues in the UAE and South Africa even as it tries to recover from the impacts of Covid-19. CA had previously said it would like a free window in January, which now has a crunch of leagues, to allow Australia's international stars to play in the BBL. The plan has been partially successful.

Australia don't have any white-ball commitments in January over the next four years, but there will be Test cricket that will take the multi-format players away. They are scheduled to host West Indies in two Tests in mid-January 2024 as the ODI World Cup in October-November 2023 creates a squeeze on Australia's home summer. Meanwhile, in January-February 2025, there is a two-Test tour of Sri Lanka. That series will need to be played before the Champions Trophy, which does not leave CA much room to keep the Test players at home for the BBL. Then, in early 2027, Australia will make another unusual summer away trip to India to play five Tests in January and February.

CA's head of scheduling, Peter Roach, confirmed that CA had tried to create a January window. "That was the priority to try and free the white-ball players so they can compete in the whole BBL," he told ESPNcricinfo. "But we understand Test cricket works in that window as well. So it's trying to find that balance between the opportunity for everyone to play versus making sure that our Test product is still really strong."

Homeward March
There is another significant knock-on effect of the five-Test tour of India in 2027. Australia have not hosted a Test in March since 1979 with their home matches played almost exclusively between November and January each year, with the exception of the rare winter series. But, in the new FTP, there will be two Tests against Bangladesh in March 2027 with the home summer essentially split in half by a trip to India. Australia begin that home summer with limited-overs matches against England in November 2026 before hosting Tests against New Zealand over Boxing Day and New Year. Then, after heading to India, they will return to host Bangladesh at a time when traditionally only Sheffield Shield cricket has been played in Australia. It will also be just the second time Bangladesh have played a Test series in Australia, with the first coming way back in 2003. It will also complete a run of ten Tests in four months for Australia to finish their 2025-2027 WTC cycle.

Back-to-back West Indies
One of the vagaries of Australia's new FTP is that they will host West Indies for Test matches in consecutive home summers because of the new World Test Championship starting next year. They visit for two Tests in December this year during the final stages of the current WTC cycle, but the new one starts afresh thereafter and Australia are drawn to host them again the following summer for two more Tests. It's understood CA did try to change the order of the series to avoid the back-to-back visits but it was unable to find a solution. Australia will also travel to the Caribbean in 2025 for three Tests and three ODIs.

In 2027, Bangladesh are scheduled to play their first Tests in Australia since 2003•AFP via Getty Images

Winter cricket back in northern Australia
Australia are hosting Zimbabwe and New Zealand in the coming weeks during late winter in the north of the country and will have more internationals during that period in years to come with the climate in the Northern Territory and North Queensland perfect for cricket. Australia have experimented with winter cricket previously, starting with ODIs under the roof at Docklands in Melbourne in 2000 and 2002, to Test matches in Darwin and Cairns in 2003 and 2004, before abandoning the concept after an ODI series against Bangladesh in 2008.

It wasn't a popular offering for local broadcasters as it clashed with the football codes that dominate the winter airwaves. But they will host ODIs and T20Is with South Africa in August of 2025 and then a Test, and T20Is ODIs against Afghanistan in July and August of 2026. "We hope that [winter cricket] becomes a little bit more regular," Roach said. "I don't think it'll be every year but we know those games will be really well supported by all those fans and we also know the fans around the country, whilst they're deep into their footy season, still relish the opportunity to watch some cricket during our winter months."

The Afghanistan question
Australia were set to host Afghanistan in a one-off Test last year prior to the Ashes but it was postponed after the Taliban seized control in Afghanistan with CA taking a stance on women being prevented from taking part in the sport (the game had previously been postponed from 2020 due to Covid-19). Australia have two bilateral commitments against Afghanistan in the new FTP - an away T20I series in August 2024 and the aforementioned tour in northern Australia in 2026 - which will mean the CA board may have to make another decision on their position depending on the situation when the series are played.

More broadly, CA knows it will need to pull its weight in playing the developing nations and alongside the away T20Is against Afghanistan will also tour Ireland for white-ball matches in 2024.

"We want world cricket to be really strong, and it's not going to be really strong if we restrict ourselves to a handful of opponents," Roach said. "Having the opportunity to go and play these opponents, developing countries in some respects, is something we're really focused on doing. Not so much to be a good citizen, it's the right thing to do because we know what value it brings to our players and also the players in the opposing teams."

Australia's men's FTP 2023-2027

(* = home series)

2023-24
Jun: World Test Championship
Jun/Jul: England vs Australia (5 Tests)
Sep: South Africa vs Australia (5 ODIs, 3 T20Is)
Sep: India vs Australia (3 ODIs)
Oct/Nov: ODI World Cup - India
Nov/Dec: India vs Australia (5 T20Is)
Dec/Jan: Australia vs Pakistan (3 Tests)*
Jan/Feb: Australia vs West Indies (2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is)*
Feb/Mar: New Zealand vs Australia (2 Tests, 3 T20Is)

2024-25
Jun: T20 World Cup - West Indies and USA
Aug: Afghanistan vs Australia (3 T20Is)
Aug/Sep: Ireland vs Australia (3 ODIs, 1 T20I)
Sep: England vs Australia (5 ODIs, 3 T20Is)
Nov: Australia vs Pakistan (3 ODIs, 3 T20Is)*
Dec/Jan: Australia vs India (5 Tests)*
Jan/Feb: Sri Lanka vs Australia (2 Tests)
Feb/Mar: ODI Champions Cup - Pakistan

2025-26
Jun: World Test Championship
Jun/Jul: West Indies vs Australia (3 Tests, 3 ODIs)
Aug: Australia vs South Africa (3 ODIs, 3 T20Is)*
Oct: New Zealand vs Australia (3 T20Is)
Oct/Nov: Australia vs India (3 ODIs, 5 T20Is)*
Dec/Jan: Australia vs England (5 Tests)*
Feb: Pakistan vs Australia (3 T20Is)
Feb/Mar: T20 World Cup - India and Sri Lanka
Mar: Pakistan vs Australia (3 ODIs)

2026-27
Jun: Bangladesh vs Australia (3 ODIs, 3 T20Is)
Aug: Australia vs Afghanistan (1 Test, 3 T20Is)*
Sep/Oct: South Africa vs Australia (3 Tests, 3 ODIs)
Nov/Dec: Australia vs England (3 ODIs, 5 T20Is)*
Dec/Jan: Australia vs New Zealand (3 Tests)*
Jan/Feb: India vs Australia (5 Tests)
Mar: Australia vs Bangladesh (2 Tests)*

Alex Malcolm is an Associate Editor at ESPNcricinfo

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Mamata on 4-Day Delhi Visit Amid Oppn Unity in Question

Last Updated: August 04, 2022, 09:03 IST

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. (PTI)

Mamata Banerjee, whose Delhi visits generally are for Opposition unity show, is making a visit to the national capital at a time when Opposition unity is in question

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be arriving in Delhi on Thursday for a four-day trip, with Niti Aayog meeting chaired by PM Modi and a meet with President Droupadi Murmu among agendas in her to-do list.

Mamata Banerjee, whose Delhi visits generally are for Opposition unity show, is making a visit to the national capital at a time when Opposition unity is in question.

The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC has taken stand to abstain from Vice President election, a decision said to be taken by the party over the way opposition candidate was chosen. This has raised questions over Opposition fabric.

Mamata Banerjee’s Delhi trip comes over a month after she was in the national capital for the Opposition meeting initiated by her to pick a joint candidate for the presidential election.

Mamata Banerjee will participate in Niti Aayog meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 7. Sources inside the party said, “Didi fighting for her State demand, it’s important to represent state in such meeting that’s why we think she is coming.

Along with Niti Aayog meeting, Mamata Banerjee plans to meet President Droupadi Murmu days after the presidential poll in which TMC was supporting Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha.

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Al Qaeda leader’s death leads Rep. Mike Waltz to question why bin Laden successor was in Kabul

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Details surrounding the United State's killing of of al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri raises new questions, Rep. Mike Waltz, a former Special Forces officer who served in Afghanistan, told Fox News.

The U.S. killed al-Zawahiri in a drone strike in Afghanistan over the weekend, President Biden announced Monday night. al-Zawahiri took control over al Qaeda after Usama bin Laden was killed.

"Number one, what was the leader of al-Qaeda doing in Kabul?" Waltz asked. "And from what I'm hearing from a number of folks, both in Afghanistan and in the intelligence community, he's been there for some time. So, what did the Taliban promise him?"

"Why did he feel so comfortable to really be out in the open?" the Florida Republican continued, noting that al-Zawahiri had been in hiding for years.

US TAKES OUT AL QAEDA LEADER AYMAN AL ZAWAHIRI IN ‘SUCCESSFUL’ AFGHANISTAN COUNTERTERRORISM OPERATION

Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri speaks on the 11th Anniversary of Usama bin Laden's death. (AP Photo/Mazhar Ali Khan, File)

Biden, while defending his decision to withdrawal U.S. troops from Afghanistan, said al Qaeda was no longer in Afghanistan.

"We went to Afghanistan for the express purpose of getting rid of al Qaeda in Afghanistan, as well as — as well as getting Osama bin Laden," Biden said in August 2021. "And we did."

Biden said in a White House address Monday evening: "The United States continues to demonstrate our resolve and our capacity to defend the American people against those who seek to do us harm. You know, we make it clear again tonight that no matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you are a threat to our people, the United States will find you and take you out."

WHO IS AYMAN AL ZAWAHIRI? AL QAEDA LEADER KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN

Waltz also praised the strike.

"This is just a great day for peace and for freedom and for stability around the world," he told Fox News.

But Waltz, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, also questioned whether the Taliban was warned of the strike.

Rep. Mike Waltz speaks on Fox News. (Fox News)

US DRONE STRIKE KILLS TOP SYRIAN ISIS LEADER MAHER AL-AGAL

"Did we notify them with the threat of it leaking and him escaping?" Waltz asked. "On the other hand, not notifying the Taliban would threaten this fragile relationship the Biden administration has crafted."

The Taliban condemned the attack in a tweet, noting that the strike hit a residential house.

al-Zawahiri served as bin Laden’s deputy during the 9/11 attacks and is considered a key plotter.

"al-Zawahiri continued to pose an active threat to U.S. persons, interests and national security," a senior administration official said Monday.

Usama bin Laden and al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri sitting side by side. (Hamid Mir/Editor/Ausaf Newspaper for Daily Dawn/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo)

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Waltz told Fox News it's unclear how al-Zawahiri’s death will affect al Qaeda's operation. 

"There are a lot of people that really didn’t think [al-Zawahiri] had very much of an operational role," Waltz said. "What I do think we need to be aware of is that terrorism is absolutely still a threat."

"We have to keep our foot on the necks of these terrorist organizations," he continued. "While this strike was successful, and I certainly applaud it, that means we still have to stay vigilant, and we can't start letting down our guard just because these two have been taken out."

Matt Leach is a Fox Digital Originals reporter based in Tampa, FL.

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British journalist raises question on funds sent to PTI from UK

Arif Naqvi of Abraaj group. File photo

• British Journalist Simon Clark explained his Financial Times story on the PTI's foreign funding. 
• Says the people who donated for a charity match didn't know where their money is headed. 
• Says under Pakistan's law no company can bankroll a political party but Abraaj did.

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British Journalist Simon Clark of the Financial Times, who reported on the foreign funding of the PTI, has said that the people who donated for the charity cricket match did not know that their money was being used to fund a political party’s election campaign in Pakistan.

Talking during Geo News' programme, "Aaj Shazaib Khanzada Kay Sath" on Monday, Clark said: "When I told them about [their money going to] the PTI, they were astonished."

He said the guests at the chairty match knew that their money would be spent on "philanthropic ventures" but they did not know precisely which charity organisation or activity the match was raising funds for.

The British journalist said the PTI admitted that Arif Naqvi's company, Wootton Cricket Limited, sent $2.1 million to it. Of the total, $1.3 milion came from Naqvi's Abraaj Enterprise. "The overseas Pakistani citizens did not send this money," he explained.

He said that Sheikh [Mohamed bin Zayed] Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates donated $2 million to the Wootton Cricket, adding that Naqvi and his associates, in Abraaj emails, could be seen talking about sending $1.2 million out of $2 million to the PTI, while mentioning that the money was sent by a sheikh of the Abu Dhabi's royal family. The money was transferred to Pakistan via the bank account of Tariq Shaif and Insaf Trust.

It was clearly mentioned in the Abraaj emails that the money was meant for the PTI, Clark said. But the PTI denied that, saying it was not aware that Sheikh Al Nahyan provided funding for the party’s election campaign.

The investigative reporter said it was possible that the money collected in Wootton was used for some other purposes other than philanthropic ones.

He noted that under Pakistani law, no company is permitted to bankroll political parties.

"Secondly, as far as I know, Sheikh Al Nahyan is not a Pakistani citizen. And Naqvi sent $1.2 million from his money to Pakistan for the PTI. My story elaborates that the donations collected through a cricket match under the Wootton Cricket's events were channeled to the PTI by Abraaj," he said.

Clark said he had been investigating the matter for the last four-and-a-half years.

"[During this time], I have not come across evidence of any conspiracy against Naqvi. Instead, I have seen immense evidence of financial irregularities in Abraaj."

"I have presented these facts before my friends and have written a book on it. As a journalist, I am supposed to unearth the truth. There are multiple criminal and civil cases against Abraaj in the US. Dubai's financial regulators fined Abraaj. I have been a financial journalist for 22 years but I have not noticed a similar situation in any company."

Clark added that Abraaj was an investment company but Naqvi also used it to fund charitable activities.

"But Abraaj faced problems owing to investment. This was the reason for cases against Naqvi in the US. Abraaj collected funds from investors for investment purposes and possessed funds worth one billion dollars for building hospitals. Abraaj received money from different investors, and organisations, including the Bill Gates Foundation. That aside, the firm received funds from the US, British, and French governments as well."

"The Abraaj executives, however, spent this money on other expenditures like salaries and bonuses. I have complete documentary evidence regarding this," Clark asserted.

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