Ranji Trophy 2022: BCCI mulls format change due to COVID- The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are considering a change in the format of the Ranji Trophy as the cricket board begins preparations to kick off the red ball season in February. BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed that the Ranji Trophy will be held in two parts in 2022, to manage schedule changes. As per reports, the new format will see teams generally play at neutral venues, while some could get home games. Follow Insidesport.in for all Ranji Trophy LIVE Updates
Ranji Trophy 2022: BCCI mulls format change in Ranji Trophy due to Covid, likely to start on February 13
The Ranji Trophy could have a new format, with Cricbuzz reporting that the start of the competition is likely to be between February 13 and 17. As per their report, the BCCI have drawn multiple plans to conduct the Ranji Trophy 2022, which will be held in two phases this season.
The tournament could kick off at nine different centres with groupings based on the Elite and Plate teams. The finalists of all nine groupings will then form a Super League, with each team playing eight games. The least performing sides – which could be 24 of them – could end their campaign after just three matches.
In another plan, the two most successful states can get up to a maximum of seven games with only three for the 16 sides at the other extreme. The broad contours of the suggested plans are of eight groups of four teams in the Elite Division and six teams clubbed together in one Plate Division.
In the groupings previously circulated for this year’s championship, there were 30 Elite and eight Plate teams originally. The latest plan takes two teams away from the Plate Division – likely to be Chandigarh and Bihar – and expands the Elite Division to 32.
Ranji Trophy 2022: BCCI mulls format change in Ranji Trophy due to Covid, likely to start on February 13
The 32 Elite teams would be divided into eight groups of four sides and the Plate Group will remain a six-team affair. The top side from each Elite group progresses to the next stage which could be a Super League among the eight toppers, who would be divided into two further clusters of four sides each.
From the Super League, two sides from each cluster qualify for the semifinals and finally the final, after playing thee further league matches each in their respective groups in the second stage.
Alternately, the BCCI is also contemplating having two Elite sides from a group qualifying for the last 16, the pre-quarterfinals stage, from where the knockouts would begin. The Plate teams, unlike before, will not have a shot at the title. They will have five league games each and there ends their campaign with an incentive of promotion to the Elite Division for two teams next year.
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It has also been suggested that nine identified cities will get to host their state sides, the thinking here being to limit the travel requirements of as many teams as possible. That way, these sides may not have to take the flight and expose themselves to the vulnerability of health risk, thus curtailing the chances of Covid infection.
The BCCI officials, including secretary Jay Shah, recently said the BCCI will hold the Ranji Trophy in two phases on either side of the IPL. The Board and State officials confirm the plans under consideration and the schedule is expected to be made public on Monday (January 31).
Ranji Trophy 2022: BCCI mulls format change in Ranji Trophy due to Covid, likely to start on February 13
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