The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to organize just two domestic tournaments in a reduced season owing to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, which has seen over 10 lakh cases in the country with over 26,000 fatalities.
The Ranji Trophy and the Under-19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy are the only two domestic tournaments that will be played. The board has decided to leave out the Duleep Trophy, the Deodhar Trophy, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and the CK Nayudu Under-23 tournament in the shortened domestic season.
As per Times of India reports, the Ranji Trophy is likely to go back to its most-initial-phase format for this year alone with teams being grouped geographically into five zones – North, West, South, East, and Central. The initial matches will be played within the zones to determine a winner, following which the five individual zone winners will compete in a knockout tournament to decide the final winner.
A thought process on these lines has been laid out by the BCCI, the operations, and logistics of which are currently being worked upon.
Other finer aspects to the particularizing, such as whether the zonal matches will be played on a knockout basis or a league basis, how big a worry will hospitality become, whether clear periods of quarantining teams and players will be required are being looked into.
“Right now, there’s still just an outside chance of including Mushtaq Ali (T20 tournament) in the plans. Let’s see how things work out,” say those in the know.
“Cricketers don’t earn from any other domestic tournament in the country the way they earn from IPL. Ranji is the second highest paying tournament. Eight teams play the IPL, 38 teams play the Ranji. Players earn anywhere between (Rs) 10-12 lakh per Ranji season or more and some state associations also share sponsorship money,” those privies to the information said.
“It’s a source of livelihood for many cricketers, who earn by playing the game. That is why it is important for the Ranji Trophy to happen. In these times of COVID, it is important that all players continue to receive their fair share of money and respect,” say those tracking developments.
A total of 38 teams works out to a little more than 500 players in the Ranji Trophy every year.
“As for under-19, BCCI considers it to be the age-group that keeps churning out talent and considering how players may miss a huge opportunity if they miss an entire season (and go beyond the age limit), “it’s is important to consider it, even if it means playing in zonal territories,” they add.
