Encouraged by last year's positive response and interaction levels, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided to convene a conclave of Ranji Trophy captains this year too.
The conclave will be held next month under the chairmanship of former India captain Sunil Gavaskar who is also the Chairman of the Bangalore-based National Cricket Academy.
Already the captains, match umpires and referees of all the senior level domestic tournaments held last year have been asked to send in their reports and observations to the BCCI, Board sources said in Mumbai on Saturday.
Last year's sitting, which was held in Mumbai, was a huge success with Gavaskar himself saying at a press conference that he was very happy with the interactive levels and positive response it had evoked. He had indicated that all the captains participated in the discussions eagerly and it was a worthwhile experience.
The venue of next month's conclave is not yet decided but there is a distinct likelihood of it being held in Mumbai again.
The annual Programmes and Fixtures Committee meeting of the BCCI, which is normally convened in May every year to chalk out the international and domestic calendar for the forthcoming season, is expected to be held only after the Ranji captains conclave.
India are to host Australia in a four-Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in September-October and then host South Africa in a seven-match one-day international series.
There is going to be no ODIs against Australia and no Tests against South Africa, Board sources said.
"The Australians will play a warm-up three-day game before plunging into the Test series while South Africa will be visiting only for a period of 18 days which gives time only to play ODIs", the sources added.
As per the rotation policy, Delhi and District Cricket Association and the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association are in line to host two of the four Tests against Australia. But there are lingering doubts whether the Ferozshah Kotla ground in Delhi, which is being refurbished, will be ready in time to host the Test match soon after the monsoon, the sources said.
There is also a question mark over the Green Park ground in Kanpur which could not host the Test match against New Zealand last season due to bad pitch conditions and the tie had to be shifted to the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.
