BCCI's technical committee suggests various changes for the domestic circuit

The Technical Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) met recently to discuss and develop recommendations on various matters put ahead of it. One of the key decisions made was with regards to the inclusion of Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) team in the Ranji Trophy and other domestic tournaments this season.

There were various recommendations for the restructure of tournaments at the domestic level which includes the addition of pre-quarterfinals for the Ranji Trophy after the round robin matches. Thus the four groups will play a pre-quarters match after the home and away matches.

Along with that, to make the domestic schedule tighter Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the T20 tournament will now be conducted after the conclusion of the league stage matches and in the window before the knockouts of the Ranji Trophy.

List of tournaments for the season:

The Irani Trophy will no longer be a part of the circuit and thus the season will start with the Duleep Trophy – the first-class tournament where the four teams – India Red, India Blue, India Green compete. Then the List A tourney Vijay Hazare Trophy, following which things move to red ball cricket Ranji Trophy League stages, then the action-packed Mushtaq Ali T20, eventually Ranji Trophy knockout matches and the season ends with the Deodhar Trophy – the List A tournament involving the zonal teams who take on the Vijay Hazare champs.

The committee’s recommendations also suggest that the semi-finals should be held after the conclusion of the super league stage matches of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20. As far as the Deodhar and Duleep Trophy are concerned it could be a four-team event now on. The participating teams will be selected the four different groups that play the Ranji Trophy.

The Duleep Trophy has been played under lights for the last couple of seasons and with the pink ball. This time around the board will use pink Kookaburra balls for the tournament.

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