With eye on home gamers’ livelihood, BCCI plans Ranji Trophy earlier than IPL

The Ranji Trophy, India’s premier First-Class event, which couldn’t be carried out final 12 months because of the pandemic, will probably be held earlier than the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Indian board pays Rs 40,000 per day to the gamers for the four-day Ranji Trophy matches, which is the principle supply of revenue for greater than 800 home cricketers. The BCCI has additionally given the inexperienced sign to host ladies’s senior video games, however is but to determine whether or not to go forward with junior cricket this season.
The Indian Express understands that in Sunday’s Apex Council assembly of the Indian cricket board, secretary Jay Shah sought suggestions from the members whether or not they most popular the 50-overs event Vijay Hazare Trophy or Ranji after the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 ends on January 31. It’s learnt that the Ranji Trophy might be a truncated affair, like the continued T20 competitors.
The board has solely a two-month window to host its four-day competitors because it desires to start out the IPL in April. With greater than two lakh Covid-19 instances nonetheless lively within the nation, the BCCI should chalk out plans to stage the event safely.

“The Apex Council had a discussion on the issue. And Jay bhai was of the view that players earn more in Ranji Trophy as compared to Syed Mushtaq Ali. The livelihoods of domestic cricketers depend on the four-day game. The operations team has been told to go ahead and make a concrete plan for the Ranji Trophy,” a BCCI official mentioned.
With 38 groups enjoying in Indian home cricket, logistics and mobility might be a giant activity. The board had taken verbal suggestions from state associations and plenty of wished to host the T20 and 50-over competitions. However, it’s learnt that a couple of gamers requested Shah to host the Ranji Trophy as an alternative of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
The dithering over junior cricket is because of the bio-bubble scenario because the board feels coping with it will likely be a harder activity for that age-group.