Ranji Trophy 2018-19: Nagpur, Lucknow, Wayanad, Bengaluru to host quarterfinals

In a letter, BCCI’s General Manager, Cricket Operations, Syed Saba Karim has requested the state associations to play their home matches at the ‘headquarters’ “to save both the teams from travelling.

M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will host the fixture between Karnataka and Rajasthan.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has gone back to the home and away system for the knock-out matches of the Ranji Trophy. As a result, defending champion Vidarbha will take on Uttarakhand at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur in a quarter-final fixture.

The last-eight stage matches will be played from January 15-19 and Karnataka will face Rajasthan at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, while Kerala and Gujarat will be play in Wayanad. The other fixture between Saurashtra and Uttar Pradesh will be played in Lucknow.

In a letter, BCCI’s General Manager, Cricket Operations, Syed Saba Karim has requested the state associations to play their home matches at the ‘headquarters’ “to save both the teams from travelling as all the teams have already played minimum of eight four-day matches and travel from one city to the other after landing will tire them.”

Karim also informed the state associations that neutral curators will in charge of the match-wicket preparation.

The associations have also been asked to reach out to the schools and colleges and encourage the students to come to the ground. In a first, the BCCI has also asked host associations to try and create a buzz, with engaging local media, putting up hoardings.