BCCI to pick a jumbo squad of 32 players for India’s tour of Australia

The Indian Cricket team is all set to resume its international duties with a tour of Australia later this year for a three-month ODI and T20I series followed by 4 Tests.

The BCCI is looking forward to announcing the jumbo squad for India tour of Australia comprising as many as players.

“They (selection committee) have been told to pick as large a squad as they want. We want back-up players ready and in Australia right through the tour. If a player gets injured, there shouldn’t be a situation where we have to call for a player from India,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

Another added advantage of such a big squad is that there will be enough players to organise proper intra-team practice matches to get the players in groove before a crucial series. For the tour that is likely to last for about 2 months, the overall strength of the traveling contingent is expected to exceed 50, including the support staff.

“Cricket Australia has sent us an itinerary. We will play three T20Is, three ODIs, and four Tests there. The first Test will be a day-night game in Adelaide. The dates haven’t been finalised yet,” BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had said earlier this week.

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As the limited-overs series will wrap up before the four-match Test event, BCCI will make travel arrangements for the players, who will not be a part of the Indian squad for the longest format, to arrive in India early. Also, the authorities are planning to organise practice matches for players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari, who have not played competitive cricket since the India tour of New Zealand earlier this year.

The matches will be conducted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the place where the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is currently going on, before the players are flown Down Under.

(Input from crictracker)