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BCCI proposes domestic cricket restart on December 20
In a communication sent to its 38 regional units, BCCI has sought their opinion on whether they agree to a curtailed season of only Ranji Trophy, only Syed Mushtaq Ali T20, Ranji Trophy and T20, or T20 and Vijay Hazare Trophy ODI tournament.
In what could serve as a dress rehearsal for India hosting England in February, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) has put in place plans to kick-start domestic cricket in a bio-secure bubble environment, by December 20 at the earliest.
In a communication sent to its 38 regional units, BCCI has sought their opinion on whether they agree to a curtailed season of only Ranji Trophy, only Syed Mushtaq Ali T20, Ranji Trophy and T20, or T20 and Vijay Hazare Trophy ODI tournament.
“With the successful completion of IPL 2020 in the UAE, BCCI is working on the resumption of domestic cricket for the season 2020-21,” the letter reads.
With player auctions expected before next year’s IPL, it is almost certain that one will see the domestic T20s, starting December 20. As per the provisional plan, Mushtaq Ali T20s would be a 22-day event, Vijay Hazare would take 28 days and the Ranji Trophy would be a 67-day affair.
The proposal is that each tournament must be a six-group competition—five Elite groups of six teams each and a Plate group comprising eight teams. Six bio-secure hubs would be identified with a minimum of three venues required in each hub to be broadcast friendly.
“Establishing a structure for a new competition during a pandemic has provided specific challenges for domestic cricket, most notably having the required medical personnel in place to handle stringent return-to-play protocols,” the letter says.
State units have to revert soon whether they are confident of pulling off India’s premier domestic competition, Ranji Trophy, or they would be happy with the Vijay Hazare ODI—either event scheduled to start on January 11.
Pondicherry has offered to host the Ranji Plate Group matches while Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Indore, Nagpur, Kolkata, Baroda, Rajkot and Chennai are among the many others being considered as bio-secure venues.
For now, there is no plan to resume domestic women’s cricket and junior cricket.
