NEUTRAL
VENUES FOR RANJI TROPHY KNOCK- OUT GAMES FROM 2013-14 SEASON
By
Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi
March
27, 2013: THERE is a very strong possibility that
the seven knock-out matches of the 2013- 14 Ranji Trophy season would be played
on neutral, or identified, venues.
For this purpose, 10 venues would be
identified based on their performances (pitches and other aspects) in the
league phase of the tournament. Out of those, seven would host the four
quarter- final matches, two semi- finals and the final of the national
championship. No venue would host more than one knock- out match.
This was a view that gained currency both
in the captains and coaches conclave held on March 5 and again at a meeting of
the Anil Kumble-headed technical committee in Mumbai on March 15.
The working committee of the Board of
Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI) discussed the issue at its meeting on
March 15.
“The issue of the identified venues, as we
are calling them, was discussed at the last working committee meet and got the
approval of the house. It was left to the technical committee, and also the
programme and fixtures committee, to finally chalk out a suitable schedule,” a
top BCCI official told MAIL TODAY.
“A total of 10 venues would be identified
during the league phase of Ranji Trophy, based on factors like pitches and
ground conditions etc., and seven out of them would host matches,” he said.
North zone, however, may not get to host
any knock- out match mainly due to weather conditions and poor visibility
during winter. “The December- January period is most affected by fog and lack
of proper sunshine, and sun also sets sooner during this time than in summer.
So, north may not host any knock- out matches,” he said.
The Ranji Trophy points system, which
underwent a change this season, may be slightly tweaked to provide more
encouragement to teams to go for wins.
“In the present structure, teams that take
a first innings lead but still lose get no points. It has now been suggested
that they should get three points, so that they are encouraged to compete
better,” said a member of the technical committee.
The gap between matches was the other major
issue the committee discussed on March 15.
From next season, the second half of the
tournament may have four- day gaps instead of three. The panel will finalise
its recommendations next month, before sending them to the working committee.
(This
story first appeared in Mail Today)
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