The BCCI will not be conducting its premier first-class domestic tournament Ranji Trophy for the first time in 87 years as the parent body opted for the Vijay Hazare Trophy as per the wishes of majority of the state units.

The BCCI will also host the U-19 National One Day tournament for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and the Women’s national 50-over tournament as per a letter sent by BCCI secretary Jay Shah to the state units.

While BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Shah were keen to have the blue riband tournament that pays the maximum match fee (Rs 1.5 lakh per game approx) to the players, it is understood that a two-month-long bio-bubble even for a truncated two-phased Ranji Trophy in times of the Covid pandemic wasn’t feasible.

“I am extremely happy to inform you that we are going to conduct the Senior Women’s One Day tournament simultaneously with the Vijay Hazare Trophy and follow it up with Vinoo Mankad Trophy Under-19. This has been decided after having received your feedback on the domestic season 2020-21,” Shah wrote a letter to state units, which is in possession of PTI. It is understood that the BCCI will probably follow the same groupings and bio-bubble for the Hazare Trophy that will start next month.

Sourav Ganguly doing well, shifted to private room: Hospital

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly has been shifted to a private room from the critical care unit and he is doing well, said the medical bulletin issued by Apollo Gleneagles Hospital on Friday, January 29.

“Sourav Ganguly has been examined by Dr Aftab Khan and Dr Ashwin Mehta. He is doing well. He has been shifted to a private room from the critical care unit,” read the medical bulletin.

On Thursday, Ganguly underwent a second round of angioplasty and two stents were inserted in coronary arteries. “Dr Aftab Khan and the team comprising Dr Ashwin Mehta, Dr Devi Shetty, Dr Ajit Desai, Dr Saroj Mondal, and Dr Saptarshi Basu successfully performed angioplasty on Sourav Ganguly on January 28, 2021, and two stents were placed,” said the medical bulletin on Thursday.