Mini-IPL, Neutral venues, Anil Kumble - Take-aways from BCCI Annual Conclave

The Working Committee of the BCCI in their meeting at Dharamshala approved the appointment of Anil Kumble as the Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. Kumble had been selected after the recommendation of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), which included Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly. Also, the recommendation of the Techincal Committee to hold Ranji Trophy matches at neutral venues was approved, and it was also decided that the BCCI will enter into Venue agreements with the associations hosting international matches in the coming season, defining their roles & responsibilities and minimum standards required.

Also among the major decisions was the starting of a new T20 league in place of the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy. In the new league, a different format would be followed where first, all state teams would play an Inter zonal league in their respective zones. Then, all five zones would select a zonal side to play an Inter Zonal League that will follow. Reviewing the suggestions of the Junior Committee, the following was also approved, 1. Under 19 Cricketer can represent India only once in the ICC Under 19 World Cup.

But the biggest decision of them all was about the Mini IPL. The BCCI formally decided to explore the option of hosting a Mini IPL overseas in September. The Indian cricket team is not scheduled to play any cricket in this month and the BCCI was looking to explore the foreign market with a Mini IPL with the USA or Dubai as the possible venues.

"In the month of September, the BCCI is willing to host a mini IPL or IPL overseas with all the eight teams participating. It will be a shorter format, not home and away matches but a lesser number of matches; in a two-week window we would be able to complete it," BCCI President Anurag Thakur was quoted by ESPNcricinfo as saying.