After a year-long hiatus, ever since the Duleep Trophy has returned to the BCCI calendar, it has emerged as the most-eagerly awaited event on the domestic scene.
However, with the build-up to what will be a long season reaching its peak, there has been growing uncertainty over the format of the tournament. With the BCCI hierarchy suddenly devoting more time towards squeezing in the Mini IPL between the end of the West Indies tour and the beginning of the home series against New Zealand, the Duleep Trophy seems to have taken a backseat.
The Hindu understands that the BCCI is still not sure whether the Duleep Trophy will be a three- or four-team affair. There is also no clarity on whether the floodlit tournament with pink balls will be played on a round-robin or knockout basis.
That the Duleep Trophy had been sidelined was evident last week. Prior to the National selection panel’s meeting in Pune on June 25, Sandeep Patil and his men had been assigned the task of picking five squads: the India-A team for the tour of Australia and the four sides for the Duleep Trophy. However, at the start of the meeting, the selectors were asked to name only the India-A side.
Problem of plentyA BCCI official admitted that the Mini IPL proposal had created a “problem of plenty.” “Too many plans are being announced in haste, thus causing widespread confusion about the whole season. I just hope that the air is cleared at the earliest once the BCCI top brass returns from Edinburgh (which is hosting the ICC annual conference),” he said.
