BCCI to potentially ban state associations from... - Reports

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to restrict all the state cricket associations from linking up with foreign boards. As per the reports in PTI, it is learned that the governing body will be taking decisions related to this at their Apex Council meeting on March 18. 

BCCI will be stopping the state associations from contacting foreign boards to organize training camps and competitions. This comes after the governing body found that states in Delhi and Puducherry and others were engaged in talks with foreign boards. They were in talks with associate nations for hosting them on exposure trips. 

The reports claimed that the Delhi state board got a proposal from the Nepal board. The BCCI isn’t totally against the state boards being in conversation with foreign boards. But they want all the things to be processed under them as they are the parent body and will be making the decision. 

A source close to BCCI confirmed the development, saying that if state units want to partner with foreign boards for cricket-related activities, all the proposals need to go through the BCCI. Speaking about the same, he elaborated: 

“State units can surely partner with foreign boards for cricket-related activities but those agreements have to be facilitated by the BCCI as it is the parent body. All proposals must go through BCCI.” 

The reports claimed that state cricket associations collaborating with foreign boards for organizing cricket will be one of the major topics for BCCI in their upcoming Apex Council meeting. The governing body is likely to take matters into its own hands related to the same. 

It is also learned that the Nepal Cricket Team will be touring India for an exposure trip ahead of the T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean in June. BCCI secretary Jay Shah was recently involved in a meeting with the Cricket Association of Nepal related to the same. 

Apart from BCCI inviting Nepal, Sri Lanka Cricket signs an MOU with the Japan Cricket Association 

Apart from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) helping associate nations, Sri Lanka Cricket too has put its hands up. They signed an MOU with the Japan Cricket Association (JCA) to help them develop their game. The deal will be through collaborations, exchanges, and also providing expertise about the game. 

As per the agreement, Sri Lanka Cricket will send their players, teams, coaches, and curators to Japan. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is putting in every step to uplift the cricket of the associate nations. With India and Sri Lanka putting their hands on the same, it will be a huge boost for ICC as well. 

For the last few years, BCCI has been helping the Afghanistan Cricket Board. The Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side made India their home for a substantial period in the pre-COVID era, using facilities in Dehradun and Greater Noida for training and competition.