MUMBAI: Keeping in mind the senior national team's build-up to the all-important AFC Asian Cup in January next year, TOI can reveal that the upcoming fifth season of the Indian Super League (ISL) will have three breaks, including a massive 40-day break for the AFC tournament which will be held in UAE.

It may be recalled that during the second season of the ISL, national coach Stephen Constantine wasn't too happy with clubs for not releasing their players and made a hue and cry about it.

In order to avoid such a situation, the ISL organisers have planned the schedule around it. The tournament will begin on September 29 and will have its first break as per the Fifa window from October 8-15 during which India travel to China for a friendly. The second break will be during the next Fifa window (November 12-20).

While the opponent for the second friendly isn't fixed yet, sources have said that it could be either Saudi Arabia or Syria. More importantly, AIFF are looking to host this friendly.

The third break will begin mid-December and will go on till the first week of February as the24-team Asian Cup is scheduled from January 5-February 1.

"The ISL organisers know how important the Asian Cup is for the country. They don't want anything coming the way of the preparations," a source told TOI.

The final of the cash-rich league will most likely be held in mid-March, mostly 16th or 17th.

Timing change

The timings of the fifth season could be changed. Last season the kickoff was changed to 8pm after the first three seasons started at 7pm. The organisers haven't it finalised yet, but the games could begin either at 7pm or at 7.30 pm.

