New Delhi: After a 17-year hiatus, Bihar cricket would once again be seen actively participating in domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy in 2018 after the Supreme Court directed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to allow the state to compete in domestic competition.
In the year 2000, the BCCI de-affiliated the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) and it’s full membership was conferred to Jharkhand when the latter was formed out of Bihar. As a result, Bihar was barred from participating in domestic competitions. Since then, the state had been fighting for it’s lost status as a full member of the BCCI. Bihar had been a part of the Ranji Trophy since it’s inception in 1936 and had been regulars in the competition till 2000. It’s best performance came in the 1975-1976 season when it ended as the runners-up.
A bench of comprising of Chief Justice Dipak Mishra and Justices DY Chandrachud and AM Khanwilkar directed the BCCI to allow Bihar to be a part of the domestic level competitions including the 2018 Ranji Trophy.
The bench, said that the interim order was passed keeping in mind the, “cause of the sport.”
“Bihar must play in Ranji trophy and other competitions. Bihar Cricket Association (BCI), which has been elected, shall be in charge of cricket administration,” it said.
It further added, “As an interim measure, the Bihar Cricket Association shall be eligible to participate in Ranji Trophy and similar such competitions and the BCA, which has been elected by virtue of the order of this court, shall be in-charge of the same.”
Expressing happiness over this decision made by the apex court, the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) chief Ravi Shankar Prasad Singh hoped to be a part of the prestigious Ranji Trophy once again.
“We are an associate member of the BCCI but following the bifurcation of Bihar cricket we hadn’t been playing in the Ranji Trophy. After the court order today, I hope that we will be part of the Ranji Trophy again,” said Singh in an interaction with The Indian Express.
He however denied that the Bihar cricketers would have to begin all over again.
“Our boys are performing well in different age-group tournaments. For the Ranji Trophy, we will have to rebuild, but the foundation is there. We have players, infrastructure everything,” he further added.
Barring the BCA, there are two other cricket associations in the state-the Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) and the Association of Bihar Cricket. Although it was Aditya Verma, the secretary of the CAB who had appealed to the Supreme Court to reinstate Bihar with it’s lost status.
“All I wanted was the Ranji Trophy status for my state and our players. That was my only intention. Now the goal is achieved, I’m a happy man. I’m not greedy for power. And the Cricket Association of Bihar is also a part of the Bihar Cricket Association after bifurcation. But this is irrelevant now,” said Verma.
He further added that it is a moment to rejoice in Bihar cricket.
“This is a moment to rejoice, because we will be playing the Ranji Trophy again. It doesn’t matter who runs the show. I never fought for the Cricket Association of Bihar’s full membership. I fought for Bihar,” he said.