Drastic changes in domestic cricket on the anvil

This time the board seems to have got its priorities right. “Also, we plan to hold competitive tournaments like Duleep Trophy, Irani Trophy and Challengers Trophy at the beginning of the season (October-November). These will form the basis of national selection and and as I said, international matches will not clash with these. Ranji Trophy will begin once these tourneys are over,” Muthiah explained.

The under-22 tournament is back after nearly a decade and a half. Young cricketers, especially those above the under-19 age group, were in desperate need of this tournament as a bridge to Ranji Trophy and this will give them some hope. An under-14 tournament has also been planned taking the number of age-group tournaments to four (U-16 and U-19 are the other two).

To curb the over-age menace, the board wants medical tests to confirm the players’ age from now on. “We are very firm on this,” Muthiah said.

The Board has also authorised the Bombay Hospital (Mumbai) to be the sole judge of players’ fitness from this season. “The players will get their fitness certified from them and their word will be final,” Muthiah said.

Muthiah was at pains to describe how the Board’s prior commitments prevented it from pulling out of “off-shore venues” like Toronto, Sharjah, Singapore, Nairobi and Dhaka but promised to “have a re-look before signing further contracts”.

For long, there have been demands for graded payments for international players and the board has referred it to its Finance Committee. The committee will also invite the Indian captain and vice-captain to discuss the modalities and criteria for payments.

Very soon — three-four months according to the Board chief — the Board will go E-cricket. “We realised how we lagged behind other countries in strategy and planning. We will set up a website and with technological help, assess our strengths and weaknesses. There was a presentation by a company today and very soon everything will be finalised. We will be able to tell you how much Anil Kumble bowls on off-stump or leg-stump. Or, how Javagal Srinath bowls to Ricky Ponting.”

BCCI to fund legal battle of players, coach

Rallying behind its players and the coach, the Board has promised to defend their “cause financially in their legal battle” against charges of match-fixing by IS Bindra. However, the Board will fund the case of coach Kapil Dev and others accused only if they are found “not guilty”.

In his request letter to the board president AC Muthiah, Kapil had asked for its help but promised to reimburse the amount if proved guilty.

The letter said: “…I humbly request the board to assist me morally and financially in the form of legal expenses for me to be the front-runner in this battle against those whose only desire is to kill the sport. Any participation financially would be reimbursed by me to the Board if such costs are recovered from the other part(ies) in the court proceedings or I am proved guilty,” Kapil said in a letter to the Board.

The BCCI Game-Plan

* Mandatory for players to play in the domestic tournaments

* Under-14 and Under-22 tournaments to be introduced

* Super League in Ranji Trophy to be replaced with the knock-out format

* Duleep Trophy to be played on a round-robin basis

* Irani, Duleep and Challenger Trophy tournaments will be scheduled so as not to clash with the international calendar. These three tourneys to form the basis of selection for the national team.