The BCCI has rejected the Cricket Association of Bengal's (CAB) request to postpone their two home matches due to the threat of Cyclone Dana threat. The CAB requested to postpone one game each of the Ranji Trophy in Kolkata and the Under-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy in Kalyani.

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The Senior Bengal side will take on Kerala in the third round of the Ranji Trophy at Jadavpur University Campus 2nd Ground. BCCI has kept a longer gap between the matches this season which gave hope to CAB getting the request approved. After the Bengal vs. Kerala match ends on October 29, Bengal will have nearly a week off before their next game against Karnataka, which starts on November 6 in Bengaluru. Same for Kerala as they will return home to face Uttar Pradesh in the fourth round at Thumba.

The Bengal Under-23 side will take on the Railways Under-23 side from 27 to 30 October at Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani where the Bengal versus Bihar Ranji Trophy game was completely washed out due to constant rain. Their next fixture is scheduled from 8 November to 11 against Vidarbha in Nagpur which is also a one-week gap.

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The Bengal side will miss the services of Abhimanyu Easwaran, Abhishek Porel, and Mukesh Kumar for the next couple of rounds in the Ranji Trophy as they have been picked for India A side for the Australia Tour. India A are scheduled to play Australia A in two four-day matches in Mackay from October 31 to November 3 and in Melbourne from November 7 to 10. They will then play the India squad in a warm-up match in Perth from November 15 to 17 before the first Test against Australia begins on November 22.

Abhimanyu, 29, has been part of India's Test squad previously - in Bangladesh in 2022 - and he has been in superb form this domestic season, scoring two hundreds in the Duleep Trophy, and another century in the Irani Trophy. Even Pacer Mukesh Kumar looked in fine form as he picked 6 wickets in their Ranji Trophy game against Uttar Pradesh. He picked up 5fer as well in Irani Trophy against Mumbai.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has proposed a series of changes to domestic cricket, one of the most significant changes being the elimination of the toss in the CK Nayudu Trophy competition.

Reasons Behind the Proposal

The proposal to eliminate the toss stems from the need to address concerns raised by state team captains regarding scheduling and fairness in domestic competitions. By allowing the visiting team to choose whether to bat or bowl first, the BCCI aims to create a level playing field and enhance the competitive nature of matches.

Elimination of the Toss

Under the proposed changes, the toss will no longer determine the course of play in CK Nayudu Trophy matches. Instead, the visiting team will have the prerogative to decide, thereby shifting the balance of power and introducing an element of strategy right from the outset.

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“The toss will be eliminated for the CK Nayudu Trophy matches. Instead, the visiting team will have the right to choose whether to bat or bowl first, ” Jay Shah said and also suggested a new points system for the under-23 red ball competition. “The CK Nayudu Trophy will implement a new points system aimed at promoting balanced performances. This includes awarding points for batting and bowling performances in the first innings, in addition to points for the first innings lead or outright win.”

New Points System

In addition to eliminating the toss, the BCCI has proposed a new points system for the CK Nayudu Trophy to promote balanced performances. This includes awarding points for batting and bowling performances in the first innings and points for achieving the first-innings lead or outright victory.

The BCCI secretary said it could even consider implementing the CK Nayudu points system for the Ranji Trophy. “A review will be conducted at the end of the season to assess the effectiveness of the new points system, with a decision on whether to implement it in the Ranji Trophy for the following season, ” the note said.

Potential Implementation in Ranji Trophy

The success of the new points system in the CK Nayudu Trophy could pave the way for its implementation in the prestigious Ranji Trophy competition. A review will be conducted at the end of the season to assess its effectiveness, with a decision on adoption for the Ranji Trophy in subsequent seasons.

Addressing Players’ Concerns

The BCCI has also taken steps to address concerns raised by domestic captains regarding scheduling and recovery time between matches. Longer gaps between games will allow players sufficient time for rest and recovery, ensuring peak performance throughout the season.

Changes in the Domestic Season Schedule

The proposed changes in the schedule of domestic competitions will see the Duleep Trophy kick off the season, followed by the Irani Cup and then the Ranji Trophy. The season will conclude with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, providing a comprehensive calendar of events for domestic cricketers.

“Following this, the Irani Cup and then the Ranji Trophy will commence with the first five league matches, followed by the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and concluding with the remaining two league matches of the Ranji Trophy and knockout stages, ” the note further added.