The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will not be holding its premier first-class tournament Ranji Trophy for the first time in 87 years as the governing body decided to stage the Vijay Hazare Trophy as per the wishes of majority of the state units.
According to a letter sent by BCCI secretary Jay Shah to the state units, the BCCI will also conduct the U-19 National One Day tournament for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and the Women’s national 50-over tournament.
While BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Shah were keen to organize the Ranji Trophy, it is learnt that a two-month long bio-bubble even for a curtailed two-phased tournament in times of the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t practical.
“I am extremely happy to inform you that we are going to conduct the Senior Women’s One Day tournament simultaneously with the Vijay Hazare Trophy and follow it up with Vinoo Mankad Trophy Under-19. This has been decided after having received your feedback on the domestic season 2020-21,” Shah wrote a letter to state units, which is in possession of PTI.
In the letter, Shah also mentioned how difficult it was to outline the domestic calendar for the season in the post COVID world.
“As you are aware, we have lost a lot of time and consequently, it has been difficult to plan the cricket calendar on account of the precautions that are necessary for the safe conduct of the games,” he wrote.
As per the report, the BCCI will come up with a mechanism to take care of the Ranji cricketers financially.
Shah, in his letter, thanked the state units for the smooth conduct of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament.
“I write this with some satisfaction and whole lot of gratitude towards the state associations and staff of the BCCI for the successful conduct of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament so far after having delivered a flawless IPL earlier,” he wrote. He also informed the members that preparations for the England series is in full swing.
“The preparations for the England tour of India which commences on 5th February onwards, are in full swing and there is a lot of excitement around it after the historic tour of Australia where, as you are aware, the team had performed miraculously under extremely trying circumstances,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)
