BCCI forced to break silence on no Duleep Trophy telecast after heavy bashing

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reacted to backlash over the ongoing Duleep Trophy matches not being televised at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Notably, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the summit clash, scheduled between September 11 and 15, will be broadcast live.

The India team is currently on a break following the five-match Test series against England, which ended on August 4. Fans were eager for the domestic season to kick off with the Duleep Trophy. However, the lack of live coverage left fans frustrated and disappointed, despite the BCCI having abundant resources.

Duleep Trophy Opens Domestic Season with Quarterfinals

The current domestic season began with the Duleep Trophy, featuring two quarterfinal clashes – North Zone vs East Zone and Central Zone vs North East Zone.

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The tournament, played in the First-Class format, has attracted several international stars, including Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, and Mukesh Kumar.

The BCCI has enforced strict rules on the participation of contracted players when they are not on national duty. The board was reportedly unhappy with South Zone selectors for leaving out key players like KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj from the squad.

There Will Be a Live Telecast of the Final of the Duleep Trophy - Devajit Saikia

Devajit Saikia clarified that the BCCI has a broadcasting arrangement covering 100 days of domestic cricket and assured that the Duleep Trophy final will be aired live. He said that most Indian players participate in these matches and receive extensive coverage under the current broadcasting deal.

“There will be a live telecast of the final of the Duleep Trophy. We have an agreement with our broadcaster to ensure live telecast of 100 days of domestic cricket, which means that all our domestic tournaments are covered live."

"The BCCI gives utmost importance to domestic cricket, which is why you will see that almost all the India players are in action in these matches," Saikia was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sarfaraz Khan to Play in Duleep Trophy Semi-Finals

The Duleep Trophy has returned to its traditional zonal format this season, moving away from the India A, B, C, and D structure used last year.

The tournament has already seen standout performances, such as Auqib Nabi’s five-wicket haul, Manishi’s six-for, and centuries from Ankit Kumar, Yash Dhull, and Ayush Badoni in the North Zone vs East Zone clash.

Fans have not been able to watch them due to the lack of live coverage. Danish Malewar’s double century, along with strong contributions from Rajat Patidar, Shubham Sharma, and Yash Rathod in the Central Zone vs North East Zone quarter-final, also went unseen by many.

Mohammed Shami made his return to competitive cricket, though he had modest returns with the ball. Spectators will also miss upcoming appearances from Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sarfaraz Khan, who are set to feature for West Zone in the semi-finals.

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