IPL schedule won't expand for next 8 years at least: CA

Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards has revealed that he feared international cricket being "left behind" by the IPL given its growing popularity but the BCCI allayed his apprehension by promising not to expand the T20 event's schedule for the next eight years.

"There was a very real chance that India would have gone on an IPL voyage and left world cricket behind. That was said more than once," Edwards told ESPNcricinfo.

"If that had have happened, you were looking down the barrel of a Kerry Packer moment. It would have been easy to say 'they aren't going to do it, they want to play in World Cups', but that was a reality," he said.

"We have a commitment from them that IPL will not change during this eight-year cycle. Dates won't change, the start date won't change and the length of the tournament won't change. They've given us that commitment and that was important to us."

Edwards said the BCCI has also been quite cooperative on the issue of better pays for international players competing in the IPL.

"IPL is important to them, and to the world of cricket players who make a lot of money out of it, and we didn't want to see it grow. We've also negotiated with India to pay the countries more for their players. We've got good understandings on that, they've been very straightforward and I believe them," he said.