Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to conduct the Ranji Trophy in February in a curtailed manner. As per the Indian board, the players will play the whole domestic season in a bio-secure bubble. The decision is expected to follow the steps that were adopted to host the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Indian cricket board’s apex council will be meeting on January 17 to discuss about Ranji Trophy. This tournament is likely to be held in the same six bio-bubbles that were created for the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. This step will ensure the safety and security of players and will allow ease in movement. It will also become easier to host the event in these bubbles due to operational reasons.
“As of now, there is a 90 percent chance that Ranji Trophy will start in February and we will have the same six bio-bubbles created for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The groupings will also be the same -five groups of six teams each and one group of eight teams,” says a PTI report, which cites an unnamed source from BCCI.
The apex council will be working on the schedule of upcoming games in such a manner that the domestic talent gets an opportunity to play for the Ranji Trophy as well as participate in the Indian Premier League 2021.
The report added that the league phase of the Ranji Trophy will be held before the franchise T20 league, which is scheduled to start in April. While the knockouts and the final rounds will be held after the T20 tournament. On the agenda, BCCI will also discuss some other matters as well, such as the extension of a window for the Indian Premier League in future tours, schedule for junior and women’s categories of domestic cricket.