Only Ranji Trophy. Only Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy. Both Ranji Trophy and SMA T20s. Both SMA T20s and Vijay Hazare Trophy (domestic 50-over tournament). Those are the four options the BCCI has given to the state associations to choose from to conduct the 2020-21 domestic season, which has been delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The states have been asked to submit their “inputs” by December 2.
In an email sent on Sunday, the BCCI also listed the windows for the various tournaments with the SMA T20s triggering the start of the proposed domestic season. The BCCI has listed December 20-January 10 as the window for the domestic T20s. The Ranji Trophy will span 67 days starting January 11 through March 18. The Vijay Hazare Trophy has been proposed between January 11 and February 7.
That the SMA T20s have been put as a priority is only because the 2021 IPL is scheduled to start between late March and early April. Also the BCCI is deliberating adding at least one more team to the IPL, which would mean a mega auction is likely in January.
In the email signed by board secretary Jay Shah on Sunday, the BCCI said that it would create six “bio-secure hubs” to counter the challenge of travel and logistics during the pandemic. “The 38 teams will be divided into 5 Elite groups and 1 Plate group. The Elite groups will consist of six teams each while the Plate group will have eight teams.”
More to follow