The Ranji Trophy 2024-25 is likely to face a difficult situation in the coming days due to its clash with the Emerging Asia Cup 2024.
Since both the tournaments are likely to be held simultaneously for a few days, this will affect the star status of India’s premier first-class competition. The BCCI is concerned about this issue.
The Emerging Asia Cup will be held this year in Oman from October 18 to 27. A total of 8 teams will participate in the tournament from six permanent member nations of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong are the other teams qualified for the competition.
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Ranji Trophy suffers a blow due to Emerging Asia Cup 2024
It should be noted that the Emerging Asia Cup is no longer an Under-23 tournament as it was before. The tournament is now a senior tournament with no age limit. This means that countries will look to bring their strongest possible ‘A’ teams to the tournament.
This year the tournament will be played in T20 format. The BCCI is likely to select white-ball specialists for the tournament keeping in mind the T20 World Cup 2026. According to TOI, emerging white-ball cricketers like Harshit Rana, Tilak Varma, Ayush Badoni and Sai Kishore are likely to be selected for India A.
These players, along with the players selected for the tournament, will miss the second and third rounds of the Ranji Trophy, which will be a big loss not only for them but also for their state teams.
BCCI concerned over loss of star players from Ranji Trophy
The Ranji Trophy will begin on October 11. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly worried about its star players missing some Ranji Trophy matches and will review its schedule from now on. However, the BCCI will choose the team based on the format of the competition.
“The BCCI is investigating it. The senior selection committee will choose the team for the emerging team this time and will focus on choosing players who are T20 specialists, due to the T20 World Cup in 2026. Maintaining the Under-23 format would have allowed many senior players to play Ranji (Trophy),” a source told TOI.
Apart from the Emerging Asia Cup, the India A team is also scheduled to tour Australia in October. The tour will be important because it can also affect India’s squad for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which will begin in November.
Pakistan, defending champions of the Emerging Asia Cup
The Emerging Asia Cup is a crucial springboard for many players who will perform well in the senior national teams in the future. Over the years, the tournament has been for under-23 cricketers, but now the rule has changed.
Pakistan A is the defending champions of the tournament. The Men in Green defeated India A in last year’s final by 128 runs. Players like Sai Sudharsan, Abhishek Sharma, Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag were also part of that team. All these players have made their international debut now.