MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has declared that the Indian domestic season will start from January 10 with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament.
The teams will assemble in their bio-hubs on January 2 and the final is set to be played on January 31.
The BCCI informed the state associations of the decision to organise the T20 tournament through the mail after having sought feedback from them on how the state bodies wish to see the domestic season pan out.
In a communication to BCCI’s affiliates, secretary Jay Shah wrote: “The BCCI will subsequently seek further feedback from the members on organising any other domestic tournament/tournaments and a decision will be taken after the group stage of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The Members are requested to factor a subsequent tournament in their planning and make the arrangements accordingly.
“Also, the last date for the Inter-state transfer and registration of Guest players are hereby extended till December 20, 2020. Further details pertaining to the tournament for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will be shared in due course with the members.”
As per PTI, the Mushtaq Ali is being held because the BCCI wants to have a mega players’ auction in early February, ahead of the next IPL which may have nine or 10 teams.
Shah’s assertion that there will only be two domestic cricket tournaments this season as good as confirms that the “long format” Ranji Trophy has been “taken off the grid” for the immediate term.
So the itinerary for the current domestic season as far as the BCCI is concerned will likely be – the Mushtaq Ali, then the IPL mega-auction and finally closing it with the Vijay Hazare Trophy ODI tournament.
