'Hazare Trophy unlikely to be played in Ranji format'

The Board of Control for Cricket in India is unlikely to agree to the proposal to change the format of the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day tournament on the lines of the revamped Ranji Trophy because of logistical issues, former India captain Anil Kumble indicated.

"Logistics, I think, will still be a serious issue. I think we will let it remain as it is," Kumble told reporters after chairing the technical committee meeting of the BCCI in Mumbai.

The proposal of playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy One-day matches on the lines of the Ranji Trophy in three groups leading to the knockout stage was received at the Ranji captains and coaches conclave held here on March 5.

During the conclave some teams had also requested for neutral venues during the knockout stages of Ranji Trophy, and the former leg-spinner said that rather than making venues neutral, specific venues would be short-listed.

"More than the neutral venues, what has been recommended is the suggested venues. There will be a list of venues because it depends on various (factors). Yes, in the coming season we don't have much of international cricket in India, so that is different but also the identified venues will be the norm rather than neutral venues."

However, Kumble said a final decision on these proposals as well as others like widening the gap between two domestic games from three to four days will be taken up and discussed threadbare at another sitting next month.

"This was more of a preliminary meeting because this was the first time that this new technical committee was meeting. So it was just to get to understand everyone. We did discuss the outcome of coaches and captains conclave," said Kumble.

"We discussed everything, like I said, through a preliminary meeting. We will again have a meeting sometime in April. At that time we will probably go threadbare into what needs to be recommended to the BCCI to be done in the coming season."

"We discussed it (an extra day's break in between games). We felt that initially at the start of the season the three-day break is good enough. In the latter part of the season we will certainly look at (giving) at least a minimum of four days' break," Kumble said.

The varying weather conditions in different parts of the country also came up for discussion, said Kumble.

"Then there was also this discussion about the weather in various parts of India, winter season in the north, east, certain parts of central, and in south there is a little bit of late monsoon as well.

"It will be suggested to look at all these things when the tournament and programmes fixtures committee sits. We will make recommendations saying can you please consider all of these when you are actually making the fixtures. That was discussed as well.

"We would go into the details of each and every item that was discussed in the captains' meeting, very soon in April," he added.

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