3 Meghalaya U-16s in North East team
Shillong, Jun 22: Meghalaya and other New Area Development Programme (NADP) states will take part in the Ranji Trophy this coming season, though the exact format of their participation has yet to be decided on.
In an email today, Naba Bhattacharjee, the Meghalaya Cricket Association Honorary Secretary and coordinating member of the BCCI’s NADP committee said that the governing body’s special general meeting “accorded a final stamp of authority” for Meghalaya’s and the other NADP states’ participation in the first class Ranji Trophy.
“The modalities shall be worked out and fine-tuned by a committee to be headed by ex-India cricketer and BCCI technical committee Chairman Sourav Ganguly,” the email added.
Two proposals exist for how to include the NADP states: have a two-division tournament with the NADP states and Bihar in the lower division or ‘plate’ group with the top two gaining promotion to the elite group and the two from the latter relegated to the lower division the following year.
Ganguly himself proposed a combined NADP team to play in the Ranji Trophy proper for the next two or three years.
“Whichever format is finalised, playing Ranji from this season has been given the seal of approval,” Bhattacharjee said. “The decision is historic and a major step for the development of cricket and opportunity for players to play and compete at the highest level.”
Kush, Sudhir, Swastic in NE team
Meanwhile, The Telegraph reported today that three Meghalaya players have been selected as part of a North East team to take part in a BCCI inter-zonal two-day U-16 tournament, which will begin on Sunday in Mysore.
The trio are Kush Agarwal, Sudhir Sahani and Swactic Chettri.
