BCCI introduces new plate group format across domestic one-day tournaments

Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday announced significant changes for the upcoming domestic season, which commences later this month with the Duleep Trophy at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from Aug 28. The BCCI has introduced a plate group in all domestic one-day tournaments, including the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The board stated on Friday that major domestic cricket events “like the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy and U-23 men’s state ‘A’ Trophy will follow a model that will have teams placed across four elite groups and one plate group. Previously, the elite and plate group format was only used in the Ranji Trophy. Furthermore, the BCCI has determined that henceforth “only one team will be promoted/relegated between elite and plate groups”. Under the earlier system, two teams — the finalists of the plate group — were promoted to the elite group while the two teams at the bottom of the table were relegated to the plate group for the next season. This rule has been revised to allow only one team to be promoted or relegated each season. The format of the Syed Mushtaq Ali and senior women’s T20 trophies has also been altered, with the tournaments now featuring a Super League stage instead of knockout. Most junior and women’s tournaments have been changed to a structure comprising five elite groups plus one plate group.