• sportzyverse
• Cricket news
• 02/20/2024
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Former India batter Manoj Tiwary, a day after announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket, disclosed that he was fined 20% of his Ranji Trophy match fees for expressing dissatisfaction with the diminishing importance of the premier domestic competition. Tiwary had posted on social media, suggesting that the Ranji Trophy should be “scrapped” due to various issues affecting the tournament.

In a post on X, Tiwary expressed his frustration, stating, “Ranji Trophy should be scrapped off from the calendar from the next season onwards. So many things going wrong with the tournament. So many things need to be looked into to save this prestigious tournament, which has a rich history. It’s losing its charm and importance. Absolutely frustrated.”

Manoj Tiwary’s Remarks on BCCI’s Orders Given on Importance of Ranji Trophy and other Domestic Tournaments

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently emphasized the importance of centrally contracted players proving themselves in domestic cricket for international selection. Tiwary’s public critique of the Ranji Trophy may have contributed to the BCCI’s decision to reinforce the significance of the domestic competition.

Reflecting on his post, Tiwary stated, “In hindsight, I feel that the directive issued by the BCCI might not have been given had I not posted it on X. Perhaps my post prompted the BCCI secretary to put the players under pressure now.” He acknowledged the BCCI’s concern that high-profile players, successful in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with limited first-class cricket, may not be prioritizing the Ranji Trophy.

Tiwary expressed concern about the IPL-centric mindset among young players, urging the BCCI to enhance the importance of the Ranji Trophy. He emphasized that the trend of adopting a “Bazball approach” is diminishing the essence of the prestigious domestic tournament.

“They are adopting a Bazball approach, swinging the bat from the first ball. Personally, I dislike this approach because it focuses solely on winning or losing. But what about when there is a scope to save a match? These youngsters are aiming to secure an IPL contract by improving their strike rates and attracting attention. I won’t blame the players. It’s a situation that has emerged. The essence of Ranji seems to have been lost,” Tiwary remarked.

The fine imposed on Tiwary underscores the BCCI’s commitment to addressing concerns raised by players and maintaining the integrity and significance of domestic cricket.