India to play 203 matches in next five years, the most

India will once again play the maximum number of international matches across three formats 203 in the next five-year Futures & Programme Cycle (2018-2023) as per the FTP recently announced by International Cricket Council (ICC). In this period, India is expected to play 51 Tests, 83 ODIs and a record 69 T20 Internationals. India's number of matches is significantly more than second-placed West Indies (186 matches) and third-placed England at 175.

However, contrary to popular perception, India will play the second-most number of Tests (England top the list with 59 games). This is 4 more than Australia, who are third with 47 games in longest format. However in ODIs and T20Is, India are playing most games, with West Indies playing 75 ODIs and 68 T20Is.

"While FTP is now a bipartite agreement but ICC also pitched in with their inputs while setting up the calendar. All those who thought that BCCI will ignore Test cricket should be relieved that we are playing more than 50 Tests in next five years," a senior BCCI official told PTI.

However, keeping in mind the Indian players' workload (with IPL a yearly fixture), the number of international games per year will be lesser in subsequent year. The 2018-19 season will have 54 games followed by 41, 33, 40 and 35 matches in the next four seasons.

Next FTP Cycle Per Team (2018-19 to 2022-23):

India (203): 51 Tests, 83 ODIs, 69 T20Is

West Indies (186): 43 Tests, 75 ODIs, 68 T20Is

England (175): 59 Tests, 66 ODIs, 50T20Is

Australia (174): 47 Tests, 68 ODIs, 59 T20Is

Pakistan (164): 40 Tests, 61 ODIs, 63 T20Is

South Africa (160): 38 Tests, 66 ODIs, 56 T20Is

Sri Lanka (160): 43 Tests, 71 ODIs, 66 T20Is

Bangladesh (160): 44 Tests, 59 ODIs, 57 T20Is

New Zealand (159): 38 Tests, 62 ODIs, 59 T20Is

Ireland (142): 13 Tests, 64 ODIs, 65 T20Is

Zimbabwe (130): 21 Tests, 59 ODIs, 50 T20Is

Afghanistan (109): 13 Tests, 51 ODIs, 45 T20Is

Netherlands (33): 24 ODIs, 9 T20Is.