BCCI Bats against Uttarakhand's Inclusion in 2018-19 Ranji Season

The long-lasting difference between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Supreme Court appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) once again surfaced when the general body decided to adopt a wait and watch policy on giving the first-class status to Uttarakhand.

Meanwhile, CoA recently formed a consensus committee to look after the affairs in Uttarakhand cricket. Moreover, they also announced Uttarakhand would field a team in the Ranji Trophy next season reported in TOI.

The general body meeting, attended by 28 BCCI units concluded there is a need for two-tier Ranji Trophy season. The meeting chaired by acting President CK Khanna concluded newly-affiliated Northeastern states and Bihar would form the second tier.

“There is no association in Uttarakhand and the state is not a full member as yet. The state barely has a system and structure for cricket. It’s difficult to induct them straightaway into first-class cricket at three months’ notice,” a BCCI official said to TOI.

Following the direction of the apex court, CoA had rushed Northeastern states into the national junior-level tournaments last season.

However, their heavy defeats and lack of ability to compete has raised doubts about how these new teams needed to be groomed.

According to the proposal, the bottom two teams of the elite group and the two top teams from the plate group would play a round-robin league.

The two top teams from the league will go in the elite group, and the other two will face relegation in the next season.

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