The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to bring drastic change to improve the state of Indian domestic cricket. Earlier this year, they implemented a rule mandating players to represent their state teams unless injured or on national duty. Few days back it was reported that BCCI is also working on a revised remuneration plan that could see Ranji Trophy players earning significantly more. According to Cricbuzz, a player featuring in 10 Ranji Trophy matches could potentially earn between INR 75 lakh and INR 1 crore annually.
But the most significant change comes with a complete overhaul of the domestic circuit starting in the 2024-25 season. These changes are based on recommendations made by Secretary Jay Shah to the BCCI's Apex Council. The upcoming season will kick off with red-ball cricket taking center stage. White-ball tournaments, like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, will be played later in the season, following the conclusion of the Duleep Trophy, Irani Trophy, and the first five matches of the Ranji Trophy. This revised schedule prioritizes red-ball cricket and potentially allows for increased focus on specific formats throughout the season.
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The BCCI's domestic overhaul extends beyond the initial schedule changes. Here are some additional noteworthy modifications:
Ranji Trophy in two phase
The final two Ranji Trophy league matches and the knockout stages will be played towards the season's end. This shift likely aims to maintain player focus and intensity during the most crucial matches.
National Focus on Duleep Trophy
Previously, zonal selection committees chose teams for the Duleep Trophy. However, Jay Shah has proposed a shift where national selectors will pick the squads. This move suggests a stronger emphasis on identifying and developing talent for the national team.
Fair Play in U-23 Tournaments
To eliminate the home team's advantage from coin tosses, the BCCI has abolished the toss in the U-23 Col CK Nayudu
Trophy. The visiting team will now have the privilege of choosing whether to bat or bowl first. Additionally, a new points system will be introduced in age-group tournaments to encourage well-rounded performances across all aspects of the game – batting, bowling, and fielding.
“The toss will be eliminated for the CK Nayudu Trophy matches. Instead, the visiting team will have the right to choose whether to bat or bowl first, ”said the statement from board's secretary Jay Shah..
“The CK Nayudu Trophy will implement a new points system aimed at promoting balanced performances. This includes awarding points for batting and bowling performances in the first innings, in addition to points for the first innings lead or outright win,” he further said.
"A review will be conducted at the end of the season to assess the effectiveness of the new points system, with a decision on whether to implement it in the Ranji Trophy for the following season," he concluded.
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