Arunachal Pradesh could forfeit Ranji Trophy Plate Group opener against Nagaland amid association dispute
Arunachal Pradesh face the prospect of forfeiting their Plate Group Ranji Trophy opener against Nagaland, scheduled to start on October 11 in Ahmedabad, after an internal power struggle within the state cricket body and a case pending before the Itanagar bench of the Guwahati High Court. The administrative impasse has left selection responsibilities unresolved and player communications unclear.
On the same day Arunachal failed to field its under-19 side for a Vinoo Mankad Trophy one-day match against Sikkim in Bhubaneswar, highlighting the practical effects of the governance breakdown. At present there is no one in the association who can take a call on selection matters. It is learnt that even professional players who have been contracted to represent the state this season are currently in limbo and have not been informed whether they are supposed to link up in Ahmedabad for the Ranji opener. The Arunachal Pradesh Cricket Association held elections in September, with Nabam Vivek elected president, but multiple district associations have moved the High Court alleging irregularities in the polls.
A petition is before the Itanagar bench of the Guwahati High Court and the court has reserved its order; the matter is therefore sub judice. Because of the pending litigation, the BCCI is not able to institute an independent selection panel in Arunachal Pradesh the way it intervened in the case of Bihar.
Since the case is sub judice, Nabam Vivek, who won the election, could not be contacted. "There is a stay order from the court and the BCCI cannot step in. There is no one running the state body. Until the court gives the clearance, we cannot do anything," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told PTI.
The Plate Group Ranji Trophy fixture against Nagaland remains slated for October 11 in Ahmedabad, and until the Guwahati High Court issues its reserved order the Arunachal Pradesh Cricket Association will be unable to make or communicate selection decisions necessary for the team to report for the match.
