The BCCI conducts several age-group tournaments annually, including the Vijay Merchant Trophy (Under-16), Cooch Behar Trophy (U-19), and CK Nayudu Trophy (U-23) for men, and corresponding events for women at U-15, U-19, and U-23 levels.
Ahead of the upcoming domestic cricket season, the BCCI is considering significant changes for junior tournaments. According to a report in TOI, the board plans to introduce Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards across all junior tournaments starting from the 2024-25 season. This decision is pending final approval at the BCCI’s apex council meeting scheduled for June 18, as disclosed by BCCI secretary Jay Shah.
In another development, the BCCI is contemplating granting “temporary authorization” to former foreign passport holders who have now opted for Indian citizenship, allowing them to participate in domestic cricket.
During the meeting, the apex council will also receive updates on key initiatives. This includes preparations for the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, expected to launch in August, and progress on the North East Development Project. The latter aims to enhance cricket infrastructure and talent development in states like Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim, which historically have seen less cricketing activity compared to other regions like Assam, Bengal, and Jharkhand.
Furthermore, the meeting agenda includes finalizing recommendations from a special committee led by India head coach Rahul Dravid and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, aimed at restructuring domestic cricket to improve its standards and efficiency.
Overall, these proposed changes and developments underscore the BCCI’s efforts to modernize and expand cricket opportunities, ensuring broader participation and higher standards across all levels of the game in India.
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