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Pakistan’s coach Bob Woolmer believes it is unfair to only blame the International Cricket Council (ICC), for any fears of players being overburdened by the number of Test and international matches they are scheduled to play in the next six years.

“I don’t think the ICC should be blamed. Any programme finalised is not done independently by them. Member boards have a big say in it and I think it is time the boards thought about players facing a burnout due to excessive cricket,” he told ‘The News’ here on Friday.

The former England player and ex-South African coach, who also worked as the ICC high performance manager, felt there was definite pressure on the players because of the hectic international schedule.

“But I think the member boards should look into this problem and sort it out with the ICC. We are having too many injuries to players nowadays,” Woolmer stated and agreed that players were not getting enough rest periods between series and tournaments.

South African captain Graeme Smith and Australia’s Ricky Ponting have also said that plans for the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship will increase the dangers of player burnout.

The ICC said on Wednesday that England would probably host the tournament in 2009. “The scheduling is the players’ biggest worry,” Smith told a news conference on the eve of the second Test against Australia.

“At the moment the scheduling is bordering on being ridiculous at times. Players need to find a bit of time for rest if you want to keep the best players on the park for as long as possible, and have the most exciting games,” he said.

The ICC and the International Federation of Players Association (FICA) are already on a war path over the new tournaments and schedules agreed in principle by the ICC.

The ICC has already refuted suggestions that the new Future Tours Program (FTP) does not conform to guidelines provided by players’ representatives.

ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said the new FTP fitted into the guidelines provided by players and their representatives, including FICA, regarding the volume and scheduling of international cricket.

“The guidelines, which have been supported at the ICC Cricket Committee, by the players at the captains’ meeting and by players’ representatives, including FICA, suggest the volume of cricket for national teams should not exceed 15 Test matches and 30 ODIs in a 12-month period,” said Speed.

Under the FTP, which will be given final endorsement at the next ICC meeting, Pakistan is scheduled to play a total of 10 Tests and 25 to 31 one-dayers in the 2006-07 season followed by another eight Tests and 21 ODIs in the 2007-08 season.

In the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Pakistan plays a total of 12 to 13 Tests and 24 ODIs. India in 2006-07 is scheduled to play seven Tests and 27 ODIs followed by 15 Tests and 35 to 40 ODIs the next season.

Australia and England also play around 34 and 36 ODIs in the 2006-07 season. The proposed number of Test/ODI matches scheduled per year for Full Member countries within the FTP between 2006 and 2012 is, tenatively:

England 76 Tests/139 to 157 ODIs, Australia 71/178, India 74/173-203, New Zealand 50/125-144, Pakistan 54 Tests/109 to 128 ODIs, South Africa 63/112-127, Sri Lanka 51/136-171, West Indies 67/123-141, Zimbabwe 39/97-111 and Bangladesh 41/105-132.

The above figures include ICC events and the Asia Cup but not the semifinals and finals of the ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC Cricket World Cup and the proposed Twenty20 cricket is not included, but the FTP restricts teams to a maximum of three home matches per season.

Speed said in developing the FTP the ICC has sought regular input from players’ representatives, including FICA. “In addition our Members attend ICC meetings as representatives of the sport in their countries and, as part of this, undertake to consult with their own players and their representatives on issues that impact directly upon them,” he added.

Meanwhile, the ICC has also written to FICA questioning whether the ICC should be dealing with a body that has the authority to represent players from only half of the Full Member countries in its dealings with the ICC.

Pakistan does not have an active players association and is not a member of the FICA.

“The ICC Board has asked the ICC management to review the policy on dealing with FICA ahead of its next meeting on April 30 as it is of the preliminary view that the current arrangement does not work,” ICC President Ehsan Mani said in a statement.

Source: The News

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