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ShareMumbai: The Board seems to be having a rethink on Deodhar Trophy. After having initially decided to do away with the inter-zonal one-day competition, the BCCI is now exploring dates to squeeze in the tournament in an otherwise crammed calendar. It, however, categorically denied that the rethink is because of the recent protest by Shiv Sena.
"It is not because of the protest. We're exploring if suitable dates can be found. We have never stated that the tournament will not be held. The media jumped the gun. You can check our press release," Prof Ratnakar Shetty, chief administrative officer of the BCCI, said.
The BCCI, meanwhile, referred the matter to its working committee next month. "The schedule of the Deodhar Trophy will be finalised at the working committee meeting in August," a press note said on Saturday while releasing the schedule of the 2009-10 season. The working committee will also decide the dates for inter-state T20 for Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which the BCCI's Tour, Programme and Fixture Committee decided to reintroduce this year after one year gap. The Board sources say a small window can be found out for the Deodhar Trophy if it is staged in a knock-out format.
As per the dates announced, Irani Trophy will be held in Nagpur from October 1-5, Challenger Trophy, also in Nagpur, from October 8-11 and Ranji Trophy will be spread over three months with first match scheduled for November 3-6. The Board has left a gap of three days between each Ranji match. The gap is 5-6 days between the knock-out matches.
