New Ranji Trophy format may foster team values

The recommendations of the BCCI Technical Committee must by and large be welcomed by most people concerned about the state of Indian cricket and the declining relevance of domestic performances in an international context. It has been expected for sometime that some kind of two-tier system would be part of the proposals and Sunil Gavaskar & Co. have fulfilled those expectations.

Under the new scheme if approved by the working committee and the general body of the BCCI, an elite group of ten teams, the top two from each zone, will vie for the Ranji Trophy, while the remaining 17 will be further split into two groups. To make the Ranji Trophy more competitive, the technical committee could perhaps not have come up with a better alternative, given the Indian scheme of things, but as I have said earlier in these columns, the move is harsh on other deserving teams and players. Unfortunately, choosing the top ten teams from the top two in each zone cannot ensure that the best teams compete in the senior division. For example, one of the three premier teams in the South Zone -- Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Hyderabad ­ will not figure in the senior league, while an Orissa or a Jammu and Kashmir may.

The Duleep Trophy is to be played on a league basis, we are told. There could be no more effective way of rendering these matches boring and uncompetitive. In fact, there is merit in suggestions from some quarters that the zonal competition be scrapped. Instead, there could be a knock out among eight teams comprising the top four teams in the elite group and the top four among the rest. This way, players from the lower division will get to play against the elite teams and compete for higher honours.

The new proposals offer considerable hope that team values will be stressed. Players will only too keenly be aware that their personal fortunes will depend on the fortunes of their teams, as they are more likely to be considered for selection to the Indian team if they figure in the senior division. The result may be more strenuous efforts to play a more competitive brand of cricket.

The idea of uncovered wickets for the Duleep Trophy is an interesting one that may expose our batsmen to different pitch conditions. While the batsmen will widen their education in the process, the bowlers may get inflated reputations as well. More important and urgent is the need to have sporting tracks of even pace and bounce at every level of cricket.

According to media reports, the technical committee meeting that drew up the proposals was attended by some special invitees. The list does not include the names of former captains Pataudi, Bedi, and Venkataraghavan or former Test stars like Prasanna and Hanumant Singh who have in recent years been involved in coaching our best youngsters. I am sure if they had been available, they would have enhanced the quality of debate.

Finally, the promotion-relegation system is eminently capable of misuse by teams wanting to fix the outcome of matches to ensure promotion or avoid relegation. It used to be done in the old leaguecum-knockout system, and it can be done again. Only the stakes will be higher.