Include Plate leaders in Super quarter-finals: Technical Committee

The BCCI's Technical Committee has made a suggestion aimed at ensuring more exposure to the best teams from the Plate League. It has suggested that the knockout matches in the Plate League be done away with and the two best teams be included in the quarter-finals in the Super League.

The recommendation, if approved by the BCCI's Working Committee, will mean that the top three teams from each group in the Super League will enter the knockout stages.

"At present, four teams in both groups play the semi-finals. What we have suggested is that the top three teams each from A and B groups of Super League along with the two finalists of Plate League play knockout quarter-finals," a member of the technical committee told IANS. "This way the better teams in the Plate League will get more exposure against top teams of the Super League. We made this suggestion to the board in our previous meeting. Let's see how the board takes it.

"And if this team from the Plate League wins even one match in the quarter-finals, it will get another match to play, which means more exposure for them. Who knows, the Plate Group team could go on to win the Ranji Trophy."

Even if the Working Committee approves this proposal, it will come into effect only from the 2008-09 season.

The BCCI has been grappling with how to reduce the difference in the qualities of the Super League and Plate League teams. Currently, the two worst teams from Super League are relegated to the Plate League, while the Plate League champions and runners-up are promoted. But this takes effect in the season after. The latest move will make sure the best teams in the Plate League get a taste of higher competition during that season itself.