The Sourav Ganguly-led technical committee of the BCCI has unanimously recommended the reinstatement of Bihar and inclusion of northeastern States in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy.
“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 judgement dated July 18, 2016, the North Eastern associates and affiliate members must also be considered,” BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary said in a statement.
The recommendations of the technical committee will be sent to the Committee of Administrators (CoA) and then ratified by the BCCI general body.
The technical committee also proposed the following recommendations during its meeting in Kolkata:
1. The Ranji season is proposed to have four groups with the introduction of pre-quarterfinals. The home-away format will continue.
2. It was proposed that the sequence of the domestic season be in the following order: Duleep Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, Ranji Trophy league phase, Mushtaq Ali T20, Ranji Trophy knockouts and Deodhar Trophy. The Mushtaq Ali tournament will have semifinals after the super league stage.
3. The Duleep Trophy is to be played with four teams using the pink Kookaburra ball, each teams representing the four groups of Ranji Trophy.
4. The Deodhar Trophy is proposed to have four teams, one each from the four Ranji Trophy groups.”
