Ranji Trophy cancelled for 1st time in its history

Cricket Desk: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), in a tough call, has scrapped the 2020-21 edition of the Ranji Trophy. Instead, the world’s richest cricket board has decided to go ahead with the 50-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy and the senior women’s One-day tournament. Earlier in January, cricket made its return to India with the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy.

To the board’s relief, February 5 is set to mark the return of international cricket in India when England starts their Test series against Virat Kohli and Co. In the meantime, Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, talked about the board’s upcoming plans. He put forth his opinions in a letter sent to the state associations on Friday, January 29.

BCCI to decide Vijay Hazare Trophy venues next week

“It is extremely important for us to ensure that women’s cricket takes place and I am extremely happy to inform you that we are going to conduct the Senior Women’s One-day tournament simultaneously with the Vijay Hazare Trophy and follow it up with Vinoo Mankad Trophy Under 19.

“This has been decided after having received your feedback on the domestic season 2020-21,” the BCCI secretary wrote in his letter, reported by The Indian Express.

Going by reports, the Vijay Hazare Trophy will be played in six bio-security bubbles and the venues will be finalized next week. The teams are scheduled to enter their respective bubbles in the first week of February. Shah, in his letter, admitted that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a massive toll on Indian cricket over the last 12 months or so.

“The pandemic has tested each and every one of us and there is no life that has remained untouched by it, and whiles it has been difficult, your support has meant that we have been able to resume both domestic and international cricket in the men’s category. As you are aware, we have lost a lot of time and consequently, it has been difficult to plan the cricket calendar…” he wrote.

The BCCI is already busy planning for the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which could start by the end of March. The auction, for the time being, is set to take place on February 18 in Chennai.