Board to ensure international players play domestic cricket

Mumbai, Apr 7 (UNI) In a bid to strengthen domestic cricket in the country, BCCI Working Committe today decided to ensure that all Test/ODI players play Irani, Duleep, Challenger and some Ranji Trophy matches.

BCCI treasurer N Srinivasan, while briefing newspersons after the Working Committee meeting here, said the number of teams in the elite division of the Ranji Trophy would be reduced from 15 to 10 to make the tourney more competitive.

This will be implemented from the 2008-09 season, Mr Srinivasan added.

He said the rotation system of playing home and away matches would be done away with and the board would allot venues for Irani Trophy, Deodhar Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy semi-finals and finals, besides for the all India one-day knockout tournament.

The board also decided that all affiliated units should start their own state academies by April 2009. These academies would be linked to the National Cricket Academy for the purpose of uniformity in coaching.

Mr Srinivasan added that the board was aware of the fact that some state affiliates have not improved their performances even after getting financial and logistics support from the BCCI and the board will take corrective actions in this regard.

UNI