BCCI abandons Ranji Trophy 2020-21 season; Vijay Hazare Trophy gets a green signal

The Indian domestic season 2020-21 has been under a threat ever since the COVID-19 pandemic began and there has been a lot of cricket that has been lost already. There are several challenges in organising a cricket tournament during the pandemic. Bio-secure bubbles can be easily done for a small tournament, but the Indian domestic structure has 38 teams playing, which makes it really difficult to have a tournament amidst the pandemic. 

Even though the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has managed to organize the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, there were speculations regarding the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. As per reports published on Sportskeeda, the BCCI has finally decided to not stage the Ranji Trophy this season, as it is close to impossible to organize the premier first-class tournament. The decision was made during the board’s apex meeting on Sunday. 

Impractical to conduct the Ranji Trophy 2021 season: Reports

Top members of the board, including BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, were in the opinion of having the Ranji Trophy, but eventually, the decision was taken that it was not possible organising the tournament. A close source to the BCCI has revealed that the board has made a practical decision more than anything. According to the source, it is not possible to create a bio-secure bubble for 38 teams. 

“We’re just being practical. Let’s face it – the pandemic still hasn’t gone anywhere. It’s here and our lives continue to remain dispossessed by it. There are 38 First Class teams and a bio-bubble of that degree is simply not possible,” a source revealed as quoted by the Times of India.

A women’s domestic T20 tournament might also be organized: Reports

Instead of having the first-class tournament, the board will go ahead with the Vijay Hazare trophy, the 50-overs tournament. According to the well-received updates, the tournament will happen once the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament ends. The board though has decided to compensate the players equally, even though the Ranji Trophy won’t be played. 

Apart from this, a decision on the Women’s domestic cricket was also made. There have been talks that BCCI will organise a T20 tournament for women’s next month. Women’s cricket has not been played a lot ever since the pandemic started, with the exception of the Women’s T20 Challenge in the UAE, during the IPL playoffs.