KOLKATA: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday paved the way for Bihar to return to the domestic cricket competitions after a gap of 17 years.
“The technical committee unanimously approved the inclusion of Bihar in the Ranji Trophy 2018-19 season. However, the committee felt in the view of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India’s judgment dated July 18, 2016, the Northeastern associates and affiliate members must also be considered,” a BCCI media release said.
The Bihar Cricket Association’s full-membership had been revoked by the BCCI in 2001 on the charge of poor infrastructure management.
In the release, the BCCI also confirmed that the Ranji Trophy, in the upcoming season, will see a return of pre-quarter finals, which was among the various recommendations that have been made by the technical committee, chaired by Sourav Ganguly. The committee had met in the city on Monday.
It has been proposed that the sequence of the BCCI 2018-19 domestic season could be in the following order – Duleep Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, Ranji Trophy League phase, Mushtaq Ali T20 meet, Ranji Trophy knock-outs and the Deodhar Trophy.
Also, the Duleep Trophy is proposed to be played with four teams using the Pink Kookaburra Ball and that the Deodhar Trophy to have four teams, one each from the four Ranji Trophy groups.
The recommendations of the technical committee will be sent to the Committee of Administrators and then ratified by the BCCI general body.
