India's domestic cricket schedule likely to be tweaked 

The Vijay Hazare Trophy could be advanced to November, right after the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The Ranji Trophy will begin in January next year.

Published : Aug 05, 2021 11:09 IST , Mumbai

As per the initial schedule, the Ranji Trophy was to be played between November 16 and February 19, while the Vijay Hazare Trophy was to begin on February 23, next year.(Representative Image)
As per the initial schedule, the Ranji Trophy was to be played between November 16 and February 19, while the Vijay Hazare Trophy was to begin on February 23, next year.(Representative Image)
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As per the initial schedule, the Ranji Trophy was to be played between November 16 and February 19, while the Vijay Hazare Trophy was to begin on February 23, next year.(Representative Image)

The domestic cricket calendar for 2021 – which was unveiled by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) last month – can see some changes.

The Board is looking at rescheduling the dates of the Ranji Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy after multiple requests from state units.

According to the initial schedule, the Ranji Trophy was to be played between November 16 and February 19, with the Vijay Hazare Trophy starting from February 23, next year.

The Vijay Hazare Trophy could, now, be advanced to November, right after the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. And the Ranji Trophy will begin in January next year once the white ball tournaments are over.

Sources aware of the development suggest that this is being considered to ensure that teams get enough time to prepare for red-ball cricket.

“The Mushtaq Ali Trophy gets over on November 12 and the Ranji Trophy is scheduled to start four days later. So, some state associations had requested the board to look into the matter as it would be difficult to switch to red-ball cricket immediately. The teams need some preparation before playing the longer format,” the source said.

Age-group cricket

While the Board has decided that the CK Nayudu Trophy will be a U-25 event this season, discussions are on whether to conduct the U-16 tournaments given the pandemic in the country.

With vaccination still not allowed for under-18 age group, a section in the Board feels that holding the U-16 tournament could be risky.

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