BCCI goes against decision of CoA to include Uttarakhand in Ranji Trophy

Differences between the Indian cricket board (BCCI) office-bearers and the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) surfaced again on Friday when the general body decided to adopt a wait and watch policy on giving the first-class status to Uttarakhand. The CoA had recently formed a consensus committee to look after the affairs in Uttarakhand cricket and also announced that the state would field a team in the Ranji Trophy next season as TOI had reported on April 20.

The general body meeting, attended by 28 BCCI units and chaired by acting president CK Khanna, concluded that there needed to be a two-tier Ranji Trophy season wherein the 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 top BCCI official close to the development told TOI.

Following the directions of the Supreme Court, the CoA had rushed Northeastern states into the national junior-level tournaments last season. The heavy defeats and the lack of ability to compete at the national level had put 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 that league would be promoted and the other two will face relegation in the next season.

While the revised pay structure of the centrally-contracted players got the approval of the general body, it was also proposed that domestic players and women cricketers deserved further raise in their fees. 

"In principle, the house proposed a raise in the fees of the domestic and women players. The hike approved by CoA didn't really take into account the gross revenue share of the BCCI. There was no significant increase in the match fees. The board can disburse more from its GRS," BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry said.

In other decisions, it was proposed that the NCA Board should prepare a plan about how to develop the game and also blueprint of the centre of excellence. It was also proposed that the all sub-committees should resume their functioning.