Elite division of Ranji Trophy to be of 10 teams: Captains' conclave

Mumbai, Apr 20 (UNI) The captains' and coaches conclave with the BCCI officials today decided to have ten teams instead of 15 from the 2008-09 season in the Elite group of the Ranji Trophy.

BCCI officials at the conclave included President Sharad Pawar, chairman of the technical committee Sunil Gavaskar, secretary Niranjan Shah, M P Pandove and Prof Ratnakar Shetty.

All the 27 Ranji Trophy teams were represEnted at the meeting, which also decided to increase the number of teams in the Plate group to 17.

It was also decided at the meeting to name the ongoing Championship Trophy for Twenty20 tournament after former Test cricketer, late Mushtaq Ali.

Among other decisions taken at the meeting include having neutral venues for the semi-finals and final of Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Irani Trophy and Deodhar Trophy.

Among the suggestions made in the meeting which would be referred to the technical committee are revision of the point system for the Ranji Trophy, scheduling of the Duleep Trophy after the Ranji Trophy had been completed instead of the present dates of October and the scheduling of the Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Twenty20.

During the meeting, the captains and coaches appreciated the efforts of the cricket board taken to strengthen domestic cricket and also were happy at the one-day and Deodhar Trophy games being played with coloured clothing and the use of white Kookaburra balls.

The captains and coaches, however, requested the board to look into the umpiring standards with a view to improve them as well as the wickets on which domestic cricket is played.

UNI