clash of fixtures could leave RoI with depleted squad for Irani Cup

A scheduling mess by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) could leave Rest of India with a depleted squad for its prestigious Irani Cup contest against Ranji Trophy champion Jammu and Kashmir.

Following the convention, the Irani Cup is scheduled in Srinagar, the home of Jammu and Kashmir, from October 1 to 5. The fixture, however, clashes with the second of two multi-day games between India-A and Australia-A, set to be hosted in Puducherry from September 29 to October 2.

The Rest of India squad has traditionally been the most star-studded First Class unit after the Test side. The overlap of the matches, though, will leave the National selection committee to take a difficult decision: field a full-strength team against Australia-A or prioritise the Irani Cup as the premier domestic fixture.

The selectors could also attempt a balancing act by splitting the prominent players between the sides. An insider at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, which is closely involved in planning the A-tour itinerary along with the Board’s cricket operations wing, said that the situation could have been avoided had the three one-dayers against Australia-A been scheduled between the two four-day games.

But, the clash could provide an “opportunity” for more players to make a case at a higher level. Sandeep Patil, the 1983 World Cup champion and a mentor of Mumbai’s Ranji team, preferred to look at that aspect.

“Instead of 11 or 12, double the number of players will get an opportunity to deliver a strong show,” Patil said. “Due to such a tight calendar, such clashes have become a part of it. I won’t even term it unfortunate since it’s not just happening in India. All the major cricket nations are facing the same dilemma,” he said.

The schedule: Irani Cup: Oct. 1 to 5 at Srinagar.

India-A vs. Australia-A: Multi-day: Sept. 22 to 25 and Sept. 29 to Oct. 2 (both at Puducherry); one-dayers: Oct. 6, 9 & 11 (all at Puducherry).