Sikkim, Jharkand may participate in Ranji Trophy next season

There is every probability of two new teams playing in the Ranji Trophy next season. While the participation of Sikkim is more or less confirmed, one could also see a Jharkhand team playing in the Ranji Trophy in the 2001-02 season.

The Bihar team consists mainly of players from Jamshedpur, Ranchi and Patna. However, with Jamshedpur and Ranchi falling within the territory of the newly formed state in Jharkhand, efforts are already on to form a new team. Quite a few members of the Bihar team gave this information to this correspondent during the Ranji Trophy one-day tournament that was on in Calcutta, last week. A few of them also felt that their careers were in danger simply because the team would lose most of its strength after division. A cricketer from Patna said, "We really do not know what the future holds for us. Already, there is a move within the Bihar Cricket Association to leave out players who are from Jharkhand."

A senior cricket official from Jamshedpur confirmed over the phone that a move was indeed on for a separate team. However, he refused to divulge any details. All that he said was, "We do not see the BCCI preventing us from participation simply because most of the team will comprise of cricketers who have played for Bihar this year."

Meanwhile, Sikkim will form a team that will consist of at least seven players who play club cricket in Bengal. They are also trying to rope in a couple of players from Delhi in case some of the Bengal players drop out at the last moment.