NEW DELHI, Jan 28: BCCI Secretary Jay Shah on Friday said that the postponed Ranji Trophy will be held in two phases starting next month, clearing the decks for India’s premier domestic competition to resume after being cancelled last season.
It is expected that the 38-team tournament will begin in the second week of February and the first phase will continue for about a month.
The tournament, which was not held last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was scheduled to begin on January 13 but was postponed owing to a third wave of infections across the country.
“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.
“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.”
Shah said that the BCCI understands the significance of Ranji Trophy.
“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,” he said.
The BCCI announcement has come a day after its treasurer Arun Dhumal had said that the Board intends to host the event.
The two phases are required since the BCCI also plans to host the IPL from March 27 and hosting two big tournaments would not be possible practically as the players’ availability would also be an issue.
Domestic players elated
at Ranji announcement
A bunch of seasoned domestic cricketers, starved of red ball cricket for the past two years, couldn’t hide their excitement after hearing that Ranji Trophy will finally be held in 2022, albeit in two phases.
Organising a 38-team event amid the COVID-19 pandemic is a massive challenge for BCCI.
Staging the event in parts adds to the challenge but for cricketers, who have been facing financial instability and not getting a platform to move up Indian cricket’s pathway ladder, playing with the red cherry only matters.
“Every domestic cricketer in the country is not thinking about the league phase or knockouts, no one is thinking about bubble or COVID, they just want to play. Playing is everything right now and rest will follow,” said star Saurashtra batter Sheldon Jackson, whose team has had an extended run as defending champions, with the last red ball game in the country held back in March 2020.
“We all very thankful to the BCCI which has decided to conduct red ball cricket even in these tough times. Only when you are able to play, you can think of climbing up the ladder.
“No doubt red ball is the toughest form of cricket but we all want to excel in it. It will be a challenge initially but when muscle memory comes back we should be fine,” he added.
That can be completed in a month with three rest days after every match. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final can be held in June, though the monsoon season sets in at that time of the year.
Sidhesh Lad, who has not found a place in the Mumbai Ranji squad this season, said domestic players will finally have the opportunity to showcase their talent.
Other stakeholders, including coaches and officials are also glad that the “backbone” of Indian cricket will finally be up and running after a hiatus of two years. (PTI)
