New format for Indian domestic cricket

The BCCI's technical committee chaired by former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar met yesterday at Baroda along with other members - former president Raj Singh Dungarpur, former Test cricketers Aushuman Gaekwad, Kiran More and Arun Lal and former Test all-rounder Chandu Borde, now the chairman of the selection committee.

The committee has initiated the first step towards revamping the national cricket championship for the Ranji Trophy by deciding to make it a two-tier system from the 2002-2003 season onwards.

It was also decided by the technical committee, to play the Duleep Trophy from the coming (2001-2002) season on uncovered pitches and on a league basis only at centres hosting international matches.

The pitches for the Duleep trophy ties would be prepared by the grounds committee of the board and the staging association will not have anything to do with the preparations.

The matches would be played over four days each. Some of the recommendations made by the committee, which will have to be ratified at the BCCI's AGM in September are:

a. Multi-tier Ranji Trophy : * Top two teams from each zone from the 2001-02 season will form an elite group (Division A) of 10 teams for the season 2002-03.

* The remaining 17 teams will be divided into two pools (Division B) and will play each other.

* The last three teams of the elite group will get relegated to Division B, while the top three teams from this division gets promoted to the elite group.

* Points : for each out-right win 2 pts and win on first innngs lead 1 pt. No points for loss on first innings lead, a draw and for a wash-out.

b. Duleep Trophy : To be played on a league basis. All matches will be played on uncovered pitches and on Test venues only. The pitches will be supervised by the BCCI's pitch committee and not by the staging associations.

c. Under-14 tourneys : The length of the pitch will be reduced to 21 from 22 and a five-ounce ball will be used instead of a five and half one.

Mail Cricket Editor