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Meghalaya Ranji Trophy side replaced ahead of Nagaland fixture

Infighting in the Meghalaya Cricket Association led to an entirely new squad being named for the Plate Division match against Nagaland.

By , Sports writer

· 2 min read

Ranji Trophy
Ranji Trophy (file photo) Photo: Rajarshi hore / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

The Meghalaya High Court invalidated the squad chosen by the Apex Council, prompting MCA president James Sangma to select a new team for the Ranji Trophy tie against Nagaland in Shillong.

Key takeaways

  • The entire Meghalaya Ranji Trophy team was replaced for the Plate Division fixture against Nagaland in Shillong.
  • The Meghalaya High Court struck down the squad picked by MCA’s Apex Council as invalid.
  • MCA president James Sangma’s faction selected a fresh team after the court ruling.
  • Senior batter Rahul Dalal said the original squad learned of the change on Sunday night.
  • BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the board had to accept the new team because it cannot defy court orders.

The Meghalaya Cricket Association replaced its entire Ranji Trophy side for the Plate Division fixture against Nagaland in Shillong. The original team had played in the initial rounds and had a win to be second in the points table.

The change was announced on the eve of the ongoing Plate Division fixture against Nagaland in Shillong after the Meghalaya High Court invalidated the squad chosen by MCA’s Apex Council. MCA president James Sangma’s faction then named a fresh team.

Why it matters

The Ranji Trophy is India’s annual domestic first-class cricket championship, organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, with teams representing various BCCI member associations taking part.

Meghalaya’s original side had performed well enough to be second in the points table after playing in the initial rounds. It also comes after infighting in the Arunachal state unit saw two teams picked before BCCI stepped in to select a combined side.

What happened

The current crisis has its roots in the infighting between Sangma and MCA secretary Rayonald Kharkamni, after the latter was suspended over allegations that he failed to act on complaints of sexual harassment involving players from the state’s U-23 women’s team.

The Meghalaya High Court, hearing a petition challenging the suspension, upheld the action and held decisions taken by Kharkamni as illegal. It also struck down the team chosen by MCA’s Apex Council, which was playing in the Ranji Trophy, as invalid.

Following this, Sangma’s faction selected a fresh team for the Nagaland game, leading to strife among the sidelined players.

Player reaction

Senior Meghalaya batter Rahul Dalal, who has played 41 first-class games and one of those ousted by the development, said the ousted players practised on Saturday and Sunday before learning late on Sunday that a new team had been registered and announced on social media, Facebook and Instagram.

We went to the ground to collect our kit bags. We took them, shook their hands, wished them all the best, and came back. Everyone is hurting. I don't know how it's going to pan out. “Three matches, one outright win.

What else do you expect from a team? And all of a sudden you change the team. Everyone is hurting. I don't know how it's going to pan out,” Dalal added.

What happens next

The new Meghalaya team was set to play Nagaland in the ongoing Plate Division fixture in Shillong. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the board was aware of the developments and had to accept the team chosen by Sangma at the last minute, as it cannot defy court orders.

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