Arunachal Pradesh set to forfeit Ranji Trophy opener amid legal tussle; Players appeal to BCCI for help

Mibom Mosu (centre) with Glenn McGrath (right) and M. Senthilnathan at the MRF Pace Foundation. Mosu, a fast-bowling all-rounder for Arunachal Pradesh, said that missing a season would be a significant setback for players who depend on cricket for their livelihood. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Arunachal Pradesh is set to forfeit its Ranji Trophy Plate group opener against Nagaland, beginning Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, amid an ongoing legal dispute between two factions of the Arunachal Cricket Association (ACA).

According to the rules, the State team could potentially face suspension for the rest of the season if it forfeits its game.

While Nagaland has already reached Ahmedabad for the fixture, Arunachal’s players are still awaiting clarity on their participation. With the season hanging in the balance, they have appealed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to find a solution and allow them to play.

“We do not know much about the legalities of the matter, but if we cannot play this season, a lot of careers will be affected,” Kamsha Yangfo, who has captained Arunachal earlier, told Sportstar.

“This is the first time we have faced such an issue, so we do not know what to do next or whom to approach. For now, all we know is that we are not playing the first match at least,” Yangfo added.

Earlier on Thursday, Arunachal Pradesh failed to field an Under-19 team for its Vinoo Mankad Trophy opener against Sikkim in Bhubaneswar. Sportstar understands that the senior men’s team is also unlikely to take the field, with the dispute leaving the state association unable to conduct player selection or organise preparations for the season.

For players who spend the year preparing for the domestic season, the uncertainty has raised concerns not just about their immediate prospects but also about their long-term careers.

A huge blow

Mibon Mosu, a young fast-bowling all-rounder and a former trainee at the MRF Pace Foundation, said missing a season would be a significant setback for players who depend on cricket for their livelihood.

“Coming from the northeastern corner of the country, our biggest dream is to see a boy from our region play in the IPL or for India. For that to happen, we need our state association to provide us with the right platform,” Mosu said.

“We have had that platform for the past seven years, and many of us have worked very hard to make the most of it. Every January, I start the year thinking about how I can perform better. A disappointing season does not mean I lack the ability to bounce back,” Mosu said, adding: “But this time, I really don’t know what to do…”

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Having spent the past five years training outside Arunachal Pradesh during the off-season, Mosu has travelled to Punjab, Bengaluru, Gurugram, Noida and Chennai to work on his game. This year, he spent the entire summer in Arunachal Pradesh for the first time, getting a closer look at the challenges facing cricketers in the state.

“There is no proper rehabilitation centre for injured players either. As a fast bowler, I know how important these facilities are. We need the right support to prolong our careers,” he said.

For Mosu, the prospect of missing the Ranji Trophy is particularly worrying. An entire season without competitive cricket would mean losing valuable match practice and an opportunity to establish himself. It could also affect his form, fitness and future prospects.

“I live in rented accommodation in Itanagar, and all my earnings come from cricket. I do not have a job. I have to pay for accommodation, gym membership, travel and other living expenses. If I do not play this season, I do not know how I will manage financially or what my future will look like,” he said.

Mosu maintained that he was not aligned with either faction involved in the dispute and had faith in the legal process. “I respect the legal process and have complete faith that justice will be delivered and that the outcome will be good for cricket. We are cricketers, and our only concern is to play the game.

“If we miss out this year, what guarantee do we have that things will be better next year? There is no guarantee that we will return in the same physical condition or with the same opportunities. Many players could face serious financial difficulties, too. We spend all 365 days thinking about cricket, but we also need the opportunity to play,” he said.

Legal impasse

The BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had earlier told Sportstar that the dispute between two factions within the ACA had stalled cricketing operations, leaving the state unable to select its teams or prepare for the domestic season.

“Because of the internal bickering between the two factions, there is litigation and a stay order regarding the functioning of the association. As a result, nobody could take up the matter of team selection or preparation,” Saikia said.

Former Arunachal Pradesh captain Kamsha Yangfo confirmed that it will not be playing the first match of the Ranji Trophy plate season. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Six district cricket associations — Lower Siang, Upper Subansiri, Kamle, Tawang, West Siang and Papum Pare — have alleged violations of rules and procedures in the conduct of the ACA executive elections and demanded a re-election. The matter is being heard by the Gauhati High Court’s Itanagar Bench.

The BCCI has previously appointed committees to oversee cricketing operations in state associations, including those in Bihar, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir, following court directions. In Arunachal’s case, however, the ongoing litigation and the absence of a court-appointed administrator have left the governing body unable to intervene.

Nagaland, meanwhile, is set to receive a walkover if Arunachal fails to turn up. Section 16.2.1.2 of the BCCI’s playing conditions, under the provision relating to the match referee awarding a match, states: “A match shall be lost by a side which, in the opinion of the BCCI Match Referee, refuses to play, and the BCCI Match Referee shall award the match to the other side.”

Arunachal Pradesh, along with other northeastern states, entered BCCI-affiliated tournaments in 2018 after being granted full membership following the intervention of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators. Since then, however, the state has been embroiled in several controversies, including allegations of corruption against office-bearers.

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With the legal dispute still unresolved, the immediate concern is whether Arunachal’s cricketers will lose the opportunity to compete this season and what that could mean for their careers.

Players to write to the BCCI

The players are now considering approaching the BCCI formally, although their financial constraints make it difficult to travel to meet officials in person.

“We will discuss our next steps among ourselves. All the players are facing financial difficulties, and travelling to Delhi or even to Guwahati to meet the BCCI secretary (Devajit Saikia) would be difficult for us at the moment. We are considering holding a press briefing and reaching out through social media. We will write to the BCCI by email as soon as possible and hope to receive a response quickly. An early resolution is very important,” said left-arm fast bowler Yorjum Sera, a first-class player.

According to him, the uncertainty had left players struggling both professionally and financially. “All the players are upset, which is why we have made a small effort to appeal to the BCCI. The legal process could take a long time, but we cannot afford to wait indefinitely. We could not field an Under-19 team for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, and now we are facing the same situation with our senior Ranji Trophy team,” Sera said.

For players who depend on cricket for their livelihood, the prospect of missing an entire season has added to their financial worries. Sera said several players had borrowed money to meet their expenses and were struggling to make ends meet.

“Not everyone comes from a financially secure family. The players are in a crisis and are under tremendous pressure. We have had to take loans to meet our expenses, including payments to coaches and costs related to practice matches. If we do not find a solution soon, our financial burden will continue to grow. We do not even know how much interest we will have to pay over the course of a year,” he said.

Sera urged the authorities to find a way out of the impasse before the players’ careers suffered further damage. “We are not asking the two factions to accept each other overnight, but we hope there will be an intervention as soon as possible. That would be better than allowing the players’ careers to come to an end. Our parents keep asking us when we will get to play cricket. It is painful for us to be in this position,” he said.

Dado Tachung, who led Arunachal in the U-23 CK Nayudu Trophy last year and also featured in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, echoed similar sentiments. “We just want the BCCI to intervene and allow us to play. As cricketers, all we have is hope, and if we can’t play this season, I really don’t know what awaits us,” he said.

Published on Oct 09, 2026

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