BCCI may shelve Ranji Trophy this year due to shortage of funds

The BCCI may discontinue the ongoing Ranji Trophy, India’s premier domestic tournament, from Saturday (October 8)  as the current set of officials may be superseded as per Lodha Committee’s recommendations.

There are 18 state units who have already expressed their “inability to conduct domestic matches” in absence of funds, a point that was put forward in the Supreme Court by BCCI senior counsel Kapil Sibal.

“There is every possibility that Ranji Trophy may be stopped from the third day itself. If the board is not there, how can the matches be organised in such a scenario.”

“If Lodha Committee, which is headed by former CJI, can’t force the members to accept the recommendations, do you think it is possible for the BCCI president to forcefully make them implement the resolutions. Yes, the Ranji Trophy is in a limbo,” the source added.

Also, read – Virender Sehwag has a special wish for ‘Gyaan Baba’ Zaheer Khan

The effect of the shortage of funds will also affect the whole 2016 domestic season including upcoming junior tournaments. The officials have revealed that the U-19 and U 16 tournaments won’t take place this year due to the monetary issue.

He said, “The U-19 and U-16 Championship cannot be conducted because the state association hosting it doesn’t have any funds too. This would essentially mean all major domestic tournaments will come to a stop. Apart from the ones where the state associations themselves are funding it. But, if 18 of them cite lack of funds as a major problem, these tournaments will only be a handful.”

The BCCI has refused to comply with a list of Lodha panel recommendations. The SC has also decided to take a strict stance and today’s verdict will be very important from the domestic cricket’s point of view. The verdict on the issue is expected by 16:00 hours IST today.