BCCI establishes ‘task force’ to develop cricket in north-eastern states
A BCCI official has revealed that a ‘task force’ has been formed in order to help North-East states develop cricket in their respective regions as they will participate in this year’s Ranji Trophy. The total number of teams that will participate in the domestic tournament will be 37 this year.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are not leaving any stone unturned as far as the upcoming 2018-19 season of the Ranji trophy is concerned as they stepped up their preparations ahead of the elite tournament. This season teams from Bihar and North-East will make their debut in the domestic tournament and the BCCI wants to ensure that the latter can do so with relative ease. To make the transition smooth, BCCI has announced the formation of a ‘task force’ that will help develop the facilities in North-East states.
"We'd a meeting on the North-East states issue. It's one thing to tell them that you'll play all the tournaments. You've to also find out what are the resources available there in terms of infrastructure. They've just one ground - how do will five-six age group teams practice or hold selection trials on the same ground? That support the BCCI has to give them.
"The BCCI has thus formed a task force to develop cricket in the North East. It includes BCCI GM cricket operations, Saba Karim, former Board game development manager Ratnakar Shetty, AGM (Cricket Operations) KVP Rao, Ashish Bhowmik, who's the
This year’s Ranji Trophy will see a total of 37 teams from across the country participate in the tournament and will also witness the debut of teams from Bihar and North-East. The BCCI also provided an opportunity for one team, amongst the North-Eastern sides and Bihar, to play in the Ranji quarterfinals in the 2018-19 season.
Ex-India wicketkeeper and current BCCI general manager of cricket operations, Saba Karim
The next 10 teams will go on to form Elite Group C. The top two-ranked teams from Elite Group C will qualify for the quarterfinals this year and will also be given an entry in Elite Group A and Elite Group B next season.
However, the bottom two placed teams from Elite groups A & B will be relegated to Elite Group C next season, while the bottom-placed team from Elite Group C will be relegated out of the league.