BCCI scraps Ranji Trophy 2020-21; Vijay Hazare Trophy gets a nod

The Indian domestic season 2020-21 has been under a threat ever since the COVID-19 pandemic began and there has been a lot of cricket that has been lost already. Bio-secure bubbles can be easily done for a small tournament, but the Indian domestic structure has 38 teams playing, which makes it really difficult to have a tournament amidst the pandemic.

Even though the BCCI has managed to organize the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, there were speculations regarding the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. The BCCI has finally decided to not stage the Ranji Trophy this season, as it is close to impossible to organize the premier first-class tournament. Instead, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Women’s One-day domestic competition will take up the slots.

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah confirmed that the women’s one-day tournament will be played simultaneously with the Vijay Hazare Trophy while the Vinoo Mankad Under-19 Trophy will take place at a later date. He conveyed the information to the state associations via a letter.

“It was extremely important for us to ensure that women’s cricket takes place and I am extremely happy to inform you that we are going to conduct the senior women’s one-day tournament simultaneously with the Vijay Hazare Trophy and follow it up with the Vinoo Mankad Under-19 Trophy,” Shah wrote in his letter. “This has been decided after having received your feedback on the domestic season 2020-21.”

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021 has been a success and the BCCI has managed to carry it out with safety. The final of the tournament will be played on 31st January at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad between Tamil Nadu and Baroda.