The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has handed Arunachal Pradesh a lifeline after the state forfeited its opening Ranji Trophy match against Nagaland. The intervention comes as the Arunachal Cricket Association (ACA) wrestles with a legal battle that has kept its teams off the field.
A three‑member selection panel, chaired by former Assam fast bowler Satya Gopal Chakraborty, was set up to handpick men’s and women’s squads across age groups. The trio—Chakraborty, Jayanta Chowdhury and Deep Bora—has already flown into Itanagar and started trials, ensuring players aren’t sidelined because of administrative squabbles.
The forfeiture stemmed from the association’s inability to field a team for the opening fixture in Ahmedabad. In addition, Arunachal missed the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and the Under‑19 Women’s T20 Trophy as rival factions fought in the Guwahati High Court.
With the new committee in place, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the board’s priority was protecting players’ interests. “No player should be denied an opportunity because of circumstances beyond their control,” he told The Indian Express.
The first match under the new arrangement will be against Sikkim at Nadiad on Oct 18. The game will not only give Arunachal a chance to regain footing in the Ranji Trophy but also serve as a barometer for how quickly internal disputes can be resolved.
Once the match concludes, attention will shift to the forthcoming fixtures in the domestic calendar, with Arunachal set to compete in the Col CK Nayudu Trophy and the Vijay Merchant Trophy as well.