Board decides to do away with neutral venues

Following cries from several players including Sachin Tendulkar, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has reverted to the home/away system for choosing venues for Ranji Trophy Knockout matches.

Following cries from several players including Sachin Tendulkar, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has reverted to the home/away system for choosing venues for Ranji Trophy Knockout matches. For the last two years Knockout matches have been played in neutral venues to ensure sporting pitches.

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Tendulkar had said during the Ranji Trophy semifinal between Mumbai and Saurashtra at neutral venue Chennai: “I am particularly not in favour of neutral venues. I feel either team should play on its home ground. The wicket should be monitored. It’s fun to have home crowd supporting you. When you are playing away from home, the crowd is against you. You get that intensity and the atmosphere inside the stadium is different.”

The committee also suggested pitches for knockout games be under charge of the Pitch and Grounds Committee member from the zone in question. These recommendations need to be ratified at August’s working committee, meeting.