Summary:
New Delhi, Jan 28 (PTI) A bunch of seasoned domestic cricketers, starved of red ball cricket for the past two years, couldn"t hide their excitement after hearing that premier domestic tournament, the Ranji Trophy will finally be held in 2022, albeit in two phases.
Organising a 38-team event amid the COVID-19 pandemic is a massive challenge for BCCI, whose secretary Jay Shah on Friday announced that Ranji Trophy knockouts could be held post IPL in June while the league stage can begin as early as second week of February.
Staging the event in parts adds to the challenge but for cricketers, who have been facing financial instability and not getting a platform to move up Indian cricket"s pathway ladder, playing with the red cherry only matters.
"Every domestic cricketer in the country is not thinking about the league phase or knockouts, no one is thinking about bubble or COVID, they just want to play.
"Playing is everything right now and rest will follow," said star Saurashtra batter Sheldon Jackson, whose team has had an extended run as defending champions, with the last red ball game in the country held back in March 2020.
"We all very thankful to the BCCI which has decided to conduct red ball cricket even in these tough times.