India defers Zimbabwe tour due to crammed schedule

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has deferred proposed one-day series in Zimbabwe scheduled in June because of crammed international itinerary, including the much-famed Indian premier League (IPL), which begins on April 18 and will run for the next 44 days.

BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said on Tuesday, "We will make it after the IPL (Indian Premier League)," adding "Or we'll try to fit it in at a later time."

“We have decided to put off Zimbabwe tour. The hectic calendar makes it quite impossible and we have conveyed the decision to the Zimbabwe Cricket Union,” Shah added.

The series that includes three ODI’s is part of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Future Tours programme. India currently playing a three-match Test series against South Africa at home and has a further packed itinerary until next year.

The Indian team tour after the IPL will take a week off and then embark to Bangladesh for a one-day tri-series also involving Pakistan from June 8-14. Thereafter, India will play in the Asia Cup in Pakistan from June 24-July 6 and then tour Sri Lanka.