Mumbai Indians have not qualified for the final of IPL 2016, but there is still some good news for their fans. According to a report in the Indian Express, the Mumbai team will utilize the open window in September to play three matches against associate nations in the United States.
As per IPL and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) norms, teams can play a limited number of friendlies in ICC Associate and Affiliate countries between June and August.
“The BCCI allows franchises to play three games with associates countries. It builds a fan base outside India. IPL has grown big over the years and we have not only followers in India but abroad too. The recent reports have clearly stated that fastest growing league in the world is IPL. There is no harm if any franchise plays outside India,” a top BCCI official told the newspaper.
Mumbai Indians are expected to inform the BCCI of its decision to use the September window in the coming days.It would be interesting to see how this experiment works out and whether other teams too would follow in the footsteps of the two-time champions.
