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Incoming ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat has declared himself open to revising the Future Tours Programme to make room for the Indian Premiere League. Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, he indicated that Twenty20 could be used to attrack new fans to cricket, and the game needed to adapt to allow that:

"The game is growing and the world is changing. With the successful introduction of Twenty20 to the calendar, there is more cricket to be played, and as a result the time could come where workloads have to be managed.

"The IPL is something that is exciting and can be used to enhance and grow the game around the globe. Cricket is unique in that we have three formats now, and that can be used to attract new fans. If we need to revisit the FTP, we will do that."

The FTP was last revised two years ago to move from a 4-year to 5-year cycle. With the ECB now also considering an IPL-style T20 tournament in England, there's going to be growing pressure to adjust the international schedule to allow top players to take part in these - and I'm fairly certain that it's the lower-ranked sides, including Zimbabwe, who will get shafted by those changes.

In the same interview, Lorgat also expressed confidence that Zimbabwe will once again be a competitive side on the international stage:

"I am an eternal optimist, and perhaps my timing isn't bad in terms of the political situation in Zimbabwe. I think the game needs to strengthen vertically, rather than horizontally, and a part of that will be to strengthen Zimbabwe.

"It has been quite good of Cricket South Africa to admit them into the domestic competition, and in just this last season they have defeated my team, the Cape Cobras. I am quietly confident they can again be competitive internationally."

Hopefully one the current uncertainty in Zim is resolved, we can get back to planning a cricketing future that isn't as heavily politicised as it currently seems to be - if that happens, perhaps Lorgan's hope will be borne out.
Sydney Morning Herald - Australia's era of dominance slowly coming to an end