New Delhi: In its bid to overhaul the structure of domestic cricket, the BCCI today approved the recommendations of the Special Committee on the revision of the Ranji Trophy format, under which 27 teams will be divided into three groups of nine sides each.
The decisions were taken by the BCCI’s Working Committee meeting which met here today.
The top three teams from Group A, B and C will qualify for the knockout stage.
The inter-state tournament for the under-22s will be referred to as the ‘A’ teams tournament, and will feature cricketers in the under-25 age-group.
Reuters
It was also decided that the India ‘A’ team will tour New Zealand in September-October.
The Board also allowed Chhattisgarh to participate in the under-16 inter-state tournament (Plate Group).
Besides, the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy will feature the winners of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and two teams would be picked by the All-India Senior Selection Committee.
The technical committee headed by Sourav Ganguly and the special committee comprising of another former captain Anil Kumble, among others, had recommended some sweeping changes in the domestic cricket structure on 12 June.
BCCI grants amnesty to Kiran More
The BCCI also granted amnesty to former India wicket-keeper Kiran More, paving the way for his return to the fold of the parent cricket body and making him eligible for the one-time benefit payment.
More, who had joined rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), back in 2007 along with former India captain Kapil Dev and several others, was banned by the BCCI with immediate effect.
The decision to grant More amnesty was taken at BCCI’s Working Committee.
“More’s amnesty application has been accepted,” Senior BCCI official Rajiv Shukla told reporters.
Prior to the fifth edition of the IPL, More had written to the BCCI seeking amnesty, having rejected the same offer in 2009. He was a chief selector before joining now defunct ICL.
As far as the benefit scheme goes, More who has played 49 Tests and 94 ODIs will be eligible for a payment of Rs 60 lakh.
Along with it his pension, which had been freezed, will also be restored and all arrears are likely to be cleared.
PTI
