A BIGGER BREAK BETWEEN RANJI GAMES TO ADDRESS PLAYER FATIGUE, SAYS BCCI SECY SHAH

The Indian cricket board will ensure a longer gap between Ranji Trophy matches in the coming season, players complained of fatigue last season and raised concerns that having just days between matches will lead to injuries. A four-member committee — head coach Rahul Dravid, NCA director VVS Laxman, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and BCCI general manager Abey Kuruvilla — was formed by BCCI’s apex council after the last season to suggest improvements in domestic cricket.

“There will be an increased gap between matches to allow players sufficient time for recovery and to maintain peak performance throughout the season,” board secretary, Jay Shah told the media on Saturday.

The four-man panel has also suggested doing away with the toss in the U-23 CK Nayudu Trophy men’s games and allowing the visiting side to choose whether to bat or bowl. The recommendations will be put to the apex council for approval, Shah said.

During the last Ranji season, all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who was part of Mumbai’s champion side, had called for better scheduling to avoid injuries. Dravid had also said the scheduling was tough on the players. “I saw some of the comments Shardul made. In fact, some of the boys who’ve come into the (India) team as well, also commented how tough the domestic schedule is, especially in a country like India with the amount of travel involved. So, we need to hear the players. That’s a very important thing in a lot of these things,” Dravid had said. Shardul had pointed out how earlier the “knockouts had five days in between.”*