BCCI steps in to prevent further forfeitures by Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal players during a selection trial, conducted by the BCCI. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has stepped in to ensure Arunachal Pradesh does not forfeit any more matches in the ongoing domestic season, organising selection trials for the state’s men’s and women’s teams across age groups and at the senior level.

The move follows Arunachal Pradesh’s forfeiture of its opening Ranji Trophy fixture against Nagaland in Ahmedabad — as first reported by Sportstar. The state had also failed to field teams in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and the Under-19 Women’s T20 Trophy amid a legal dispute between two factions of the Arunachal Cricket Association (ACA), pending before the Guwahati High Court’s Itanagar Bench.

M. Khairul Jamal Majumdar, a member of the BCCI’s Apex Council, has been appointed convener of the selection process. The three-member independent selection panel comprises former Assam players Satya Gopal Chakraborty, Jayanta Chowdhury and Deep Bora, with Chakraborty serving as chairman.

They will oversee the trials to ensure Arunachal fields teams in the Ranji Trophy, Col. C.K. Nayudu Trophy, Senior Women’s T20 Trophy and Vijay Merchant Trophy.

“The BCCI will do everything, keeping the players’ interest in mind,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told Sportstar. “After we came to know about the ongoing bickering between the two factions in the ACA over election, and studied all the legal documents, we decided to step in and ensure that the players don’t suffer,” he added.

Majumdar, who originally hails from Mizoram, was sent to Arunachal last week to look into the matter as convener and conduct the trials. “We cannot allow the teams to go without participating in this season’s domestic competitions. So, it was our prerogative to find a solution,” Saikia said.

To prevent local interference in the selection process, the BCCI has placed advertisements in newspapers, asking players to come forward and participate in the trials. “There will be no outside interference. The three-member committee will independently conduct the trials and pick the squads based on merit,” Saikia said.

Arunachal’s forfeiture of its opening Ranji Trophy fixture against Nagaland prompted several cricketers to urge the Board to step in and support the players.

“When we got to know about the legal case, it was very late, so we could not do much ahead of the first game as there was no time and we also needed to study the legal matters,” Saikia said. “We have always put the players’ interest first and we will ensure that they don’t suffer in the future…”

The support staff will also be appointed by Wednesday, giving the teams some time to prepare before resuming their domestic campaigns.