The Ranji Trophy was postponed on January 5, eight days before the scheduled start, due to a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the country
Jay Shah. Pic/Bipin Kokate
BCCI secretary Jay Shah has some encouraging news for India's first-class who are hoping to play the Ranji Trophy this season. The tournament did not take place last year and the BCCI doled out compensation for the first-class cricketers of every state. According to Shah, the BCCI will conduct the tournament in two phases, as reported by mid-day on January 18.
“The Board has decided to conduct the Ranji Trophy this season in two phases. In the first phase, we plan to complete all matches of the league stage while the knockouts will be held in June," Shah said in a statement on Friday, a day after the BCCI office-bearers met to discuss the domestic season.
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"My team is working closely to mitigate any kind of health risk caused by the pandemic, while at the same time ensuring a highly competitive red-ball cricket contest. Ranji Trophy is our most prestigious domestic competition, which has been providing Indian Cricket with an enviable talent pool every year. It is absolutely important that we take all necessary steps to safeguard the interest of this premier event," Shah added.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri took to Twitter to appeal for Ranji Trophy to happen. "The Ranji Trophy is the backbone of Indian cricket. The moment you start ignoring it our cricket will be SPINELESS!" Shastri tweeted just hours before Shah's statement. The Ranji Trophy was postponed on January 5, eight days before the scheduled start, due to a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the country.
Along with the Ranji Trophy, the BCCI had also put on hold Col CK Nayudu Trophy, U-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy and the Senior Women’s T20 League. There is no clarity on the resumptions of these tournaments as yet. The BCCI had indefinitely postponed U-19 Cooch Behar Trophy knockouts due to surge in COVID cases.
It remains to be seen what are the BCCI's plans for these tournaments.
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