BCCI Announces New Pattern for Indian Domestic Circuit

After announcing a special opportunity to North-East states, the supreme cricket body of India, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it a reality owing to a fresh pattern.

Following war-torn conditions, BCCI amends the domestic competition Ranji trophy pattern. As per the new guidelines, the revamped Ranji Trophy will feature 37 teams in the 2018-19 season.

On July 18, BCCI announced that the season will commence from November 1, 2018.

Description of new teams:

The nine new teams will participate include Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim and Uttarakhand.

The above-mentioned teams are forming the plate group. The existing 28 are further divided into three elite groups A, B and C respectively to follow the competition of Elite-Plate format.

The table toppers of the Plate division will not only qualify for quarter-finals, but it will also allow the team to get promoted to Elite Group C, for the next season.

Similar to that, the top two teams of Elite Group C will find their names in nine-member Elite Groups A and B in next season after facing promotion.

Women’s domestic also expanded:

Board did not only alter the pattern of Ranji but it went beyond to that. BCCI introduced a separate T20 and One-day challenger Trophy for both seniors as well under-23 category primarily.

In addition to the existing one, it is introduced to Women’s Under-19 domestic schedule.

Scheduled dates of domestic trophies:

The knockout stage of Ranji Trophy season 2018-19 will begin from January 15.

In the Duleep Trophy, it will be interesting to see whether Board will continue to do experiment with the pink ball in this four-team competition.

Duleep Trophy will commence from August 17 and as per the revised pattern. The Test fixtures will be now for four days.

Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy:

BCCI also altered Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy. It is also comprised of 37 teams.

The One-day competition will commence from 19 September whereas. the T20 competition will kick off from February 21.