NEW DELHI: The BCCI has released a revised domestic schedule for the 2021-22 season, with the Ranji Trophy running from January 5 to March 20 in a a revamped format.
The domestic schedule was released to affiliated state cricket units on Thursday, IANS reports.
The Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s will begin on October 27 and run till November 22 whereas the Vijay Hazare one-dayers will run from December 1 to 29. All the three tournaments will follow a uniform pattern this time.
The domestic season will, however, commence from September 20 with the women’s under-19 one-dayers.
“The BCCI is working closely with the Government of India, state regulatory authorities, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that our sport achieves a collaborative solution. With this, there is a combined objective for a complete BCCI Domestic Cricket Season 2021-22 to be played, enabling us to maintain the integrity of each competition,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah wrotes to state bodies, in a letter accessed by IANS.
“The BCCI will proceed with the full season of domestic cricket starting with Under 19 tournaments (both categories) in September 2021,” added Shah in the letter.
Unlike previous years, this time there will be uniformity in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s, Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare one-dayers. There will be five Elite groups, with each group comprising six teams, in each tournament. There will be one Plate group of eight teams. The winner of the five Elite groups will make it directly to the quarter-finals. The second-placed teams from each Elite group and the winner of the Plate group will play three pre-quarter finals and the three winners will complete the quarter-final line-up.
The Indian cricket board had last month issued a statement that the men’s domestic season will commence on October 20 and the Ranji Trophy will be held in a three-month window between November, 16, 2021 to February 19, 2022.
“The restart date for BCCI Domestic Cricket Season 2021-22 has been reviewed with all stakeholders, as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic develops and we work together through this very challenging time,” Shah stated in the letter.
The BCCI also confirmed that each state squad will be able to have a maximum of 30 members comprising of a minimum of 20 players. It means that the support staff can’t exceed 10.
“Each team is encouraged to have a team physician to manage COVID related issues. The team physician is separate from the team physiotherapist and is inclusive of the 10 support staff,” the letter added.
“The last date for the inter-state transfer and registration of guest players is 15 days before the start of the specific tournament.”
2021-22 season domestic schedule
Women’s under-19 (One-Day): Sep 20 to Oct 18
Vinoo Mankad Trophy (Men’s U-19 – One-Day): Sep 20 to Oct 18
Men’s Challenger Trophy (U-19 ): Oct 26 to Nov 9
Women Challenger Trophy (U-19): Oct 25 to Nov 6
Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy: Oct 27 to Nov 22
Senior Women’s One Day: Oct 20 to Nov 20
Men State A One Day: Nov 9 to Dec 10
Vijay Hazare Trophy (Men One-Day): Dec 1 to Dec 29
Senior Women’s Challenger Trophy: Nov 26 to Dec 8
Ranji Trophy: Jan 5 to Mar 20 Cooch Behar Trophy (Men U-19): Nov 21 to Feb 2
Col. CK Nayudu Trophy (Men 4-day, U-25): Jan 6 to Apr 2
Senior Women’s T20: Feb 20 to Mar 23
Vijay Merchant Trophy (Men U-16): Nov-Dec
