Cricket in state faces headwinds – Times of India

Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Cricket Association is a beehive of activity during the Indian Premier League. The T20 bash is not the only reason. Over the years, the KSCA has kick-started the first division league in the second week of April. But this year, there is no sign of the league with June just two days away.The league, which draws the state’s best players, serves many purposes. The two-day red-ball fixtures are selection trials to pick probables for the Ranji Trophy and help in identifying U-23 players — who otherwise have limited opportunities to showcase their talent — for the senior set-up. It also helps players ease into the longer format of the game.According to sources, the primary reason for the delay is a dispute between three second division clubs — Vijaya CC, Jawans CC and Century Cricketers — with the latter two apparently complaining to the state association over alleged irregularities in player representation by Vijaya CC in a 2023-24 fixture, which the club has refuted.The clubs complained in February this year but the KSCA, after a series of meetings, apparently spelt out its decision on Wednesday, which is yet to be communicated to the clubs. In case one of the clubs appeals against the decision or seeks legal recourse, the league will be deferred further since the top two clubs get promoted to the first division. A similar incident held up the league last season as well. Matches were staggered and the league ended on Feb 10 this year.CASCADING EFFECTThe first division league is played over approximately two-and-half months, which means by now the tournament should have been in an advanced stage. The delay may adversely hit Karnataka’s showing in the upcoming domestic season.Having appeared briefly in the knockouts with seven debutants last season, the state senior team awaited a revamp and a well-planned course correction was necessary.Although the selection committee is yet to be named, the competition is facing headwinds with the monsoon setting in. A league in June-July is bound to be rain-affected, robbing senior team aspirants of opportunities.“We don’t know what the KSCA has been thinking. How can they have two-day games during monsoon? Many of the U-16 one-day games, currently underway, are already rain-affected. This situation could have been avoided had the association taken quick decisions. It affects our planning as well,” lamented a club secretary, who did not want to be named.This apart, the SA Srinivasan memorial tournament (U-25) will have to be held later. But creating a window will be a challenge with the KSCA contemplating an August 15-30 slot for the Maharaja Cup KSCA T20 tournament. This means, in the run-up to the auction, the KSCA inter-club T20 tournament will have to be held.It also puts a question mark over the revival of two of KSCA’s showpiece red-ball events — the Shafi Darashah Trophy (not held after 2017-18) and Dr (Capt) K Thimmappiah memorial invitational tournament (not held since 2019-20), which served as a prelude to Ranji Trophy. These tournaments were crucial this year as the season begins with the Duleep Trophy and Ranji in September.The delay will also impact the other divisions, age-group leagues and the talent hunt for BCCI tournaments. The women’s fixtures too will suffer. With promising talent emerging in the U-23 and U-19 categories, KSCA may have missed a trick or two in cashing in on the advantages of the previous season. Karnataka last won the Ranji Trophy in the 2014-15 and hasn’t laid hands on a BCCI senior Trophy after the 2019-20 season and the prevailing circumstances paint a grim picture. Repeated calls to KSCA president Raghuram Bhat for his comments went unanswered.