BCCI names 15-member squad for Arunachal Pradesh; Neelam Obi to captain Ranji Trophy side
Synopsis
For the first time in 17 years, a Ranji Trophy match was forfeited — and it happened because two factions of Arunachal Pradesh's cricket body were locked in court. The BCCI's direct intervention, appointing an independent panel to run trials and pick squads, is an unusually forceful assertion of board authority over a state association, and signals that the governance crisis runs deeper than one missed game.
Key Takeaways
Neelam Obi named captain of Arunachal Pradesh's 15-member Ranji Trophy squad by a BCCI -appointed panel on 15 October 2026 .
Kamsha Yangfo is vice-captain; former Assam cricketer Sujay Tarafdar appointed head coach.
The crisis stemmed from a legal dispute between two factions of the Arunachal Cricket Association (ARCA) before the Guwahati High Court-Itanagar Bench .
Arunachal's forfeit of their Plate Group opener against Nagaland was the first Ranji Trophy forfeit in 17 years .
A separate 15-member U-23 squad for the Col C K Nayudu Trophy was also named, with Leki Tsering as captain.
Trials were conducted at the Delhi Public School, Itanagar by a panel of former Assam cricketers chaired by Satya Gopal Chakraborty .
Neelam Obi has been named captain of Arunachal Pradesh's Ranji Trophy squad after a BCCI-appointed three-member selection panel picked a 15-member group for the state's next three matches, ending weeks of administrative paralysis that had already cost Arunachal a forfeit in the season opener. The development marks a direct intervention by the board to protect the interests of cricketers caught in an off-field legal dispute.
The Squad and Leadership
Kamsha Yangfo has been designated vice-captain, while former Assam cricketer Sujay Tarafdar will serve as head coach. Salil Malhotra, who has played two first-class matches for Delhi, has been included as the guest player in the Ranji Trophy setup.
Separately, the panel also finalised a 15-member Under-23 squad for the Col C K Nayudu Trophy, with Leki Tsering as captain and Techi Tado as vice-captain, covering the state's first three fixtures in that competition as well.
The Crisis That Prompted BCCI Intervention
The selections follow a governance breakdown at the Arunachal Cricket Association (ARCA), where a legal battle between two rival factions, being heard before the Guwahati High Court-Itanagar Bench, left the state unable to name a team for its Plate Group opener against Nagaland in Ahmedabad. The result was a forfeit — the first in the Ranji Trophy in 17 years.
The fallout extended further: Arunachal Pradesh also failed to field teams in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and the Under-19 Women's T20 Trophy, underscoring the breadth of the administrative vacuum. The BCCI stepped in citing the ongoing domestic season and the welfare of the players affected.
How the Selection Process Worked
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that an independent selection committee comprising former Assam cricketers Satya Gopal Chakraborty (chairman), Jayanta Choudhury, and Deep Borah conducted trials at the Delhi Public School in Itanagar. The trials covered squads for the Ranji Trophy, U-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy, Senior Women's T20 Trophy, and Vijay Merchant Trophy.
BCCI Apex Council member M K Khairul Jamal Majumdar was appointed convener for both the trials and the selection process, ensuring board-level oversight at every stage.
Full Squad Lists
Ranji Trophy: Neelam Obi (captain), Kamsha Yangfo (vice-captain), Nabam Kama, Licha Jhon, Myendung Singpo, Techi Doria, Biki Kumar, Mibom Mosu, Yorjum Sera, Yab Niya, Nabam Tempol, Techi Neri, Likha Sonia, Nabam Dol, Salil Malhotra (guest player). Stand-bys: Nabam Totu, Nabam Josh, Techi Sania, Darge Bagra, Shuhel Aktar Ansari, Penjor Mangol, Techi Sonam, Akhilesh Sahani, Chandhan Kr Singh, Techi Tiklee, Rakesh Kumar.
U-23 Col C K Nayudu Trophy: Leki Tsering (captain), Techi Tado (vice-captain), Aman Pisa, Takam Jacob, Amarjeet Sharma, Nabam Abo, Sosar Kakum, Rajesh Rebi, Techi Dol, Nabam Indiya, Passang Norbu, Shiva Kumar, Gollo Agha, Loli Yangfo, Nini Mibang. Stand-bys: Gibbson Cheda, Nabam Ram, Nabam Rikam, Nabam Jesh, Gemar Taipodia, Kabak Yakup, Yowa Topu, Nabam Reekam, Tsering Tashi, Chubing Chege.
What Comes Next
With squads now formally in place, Arunachal Pradesh will aim to leave the off-field turmoil behind and compete meaningfully across the remaining fixtures of the domestic season. The episode is likely to prompt broader scrutiny of governance structures in associate state cricket bodies affiliated with the BCCI.
Point of View
Appointing a coach, and naming squads across four competitions is a function that belongs to a state association, not the national board. The 17-year forfeit record is a damning marker, but the deeper issue is that governance failures in associate state bodies rarely attract consequences until players are visibly harmed. The legal wrangle at ARCA is unlikely to resolve quickly, and the BCCI's intervention, however necessary in the short term, does not fix the structural vacuum that made it necessary in the first place.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Arunachal Pradesh forfeit their Ranji Trophy opener?
Arunachal Pradesh forfeited their Plate Group match against Nagaland in Ahmedabad because a legal dispute between two factions of the Arunachal Cricket Association (ARCA), pending before the Guwahati High Court-Itanagar Bench, left the state unable to constitute a team. It was the first Ranji Trophy forfeit in 17 years.
Who is Neelam Obi and why has he been named captain?
Neelam Obi is the cricketer selected by the BCCI-appointed independent panel to lead Arunachal Pradesh in their next three Ranji Trophy matches. He was chosen following formal trials held at the Delhi Public School in Itanagar after the BCCI intervened to restore order following the ARCA governance crisis.
How did the BCCI intervene in the Arunachal Pradesh cricket crisis?
The BCCI appointed an independent three-member selection committee of former Assam cricketers — Satya Gopal Chakraborty (chairman), Jayanta Choudhury, and Deep Borah — to conduct trials and pick squads across four competitions. BCCI Apex Council member M K Khairul Jamal Majumdar was named convener of the process.
Which other tournaments were affected by the ARCA crisis?
Beyond the Ranji Trophy forfeit, Arunachal Pradesh also could not field teams in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and the Under-19 Women's T20 Trophy. The BCCI's intervention covered squad selections for the Ranji Trophy, U-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy, Senior Women's T20 Trophy, and Vijay Merchant Trophy.
Who is the guest player in the Arunachal Pradesh Ranji Trophy squad?
Salil Malhotra, who has played two first-class matches for Delhi, has been included as the guest player in the 15-member Ranji Trophy squad selected by the BCCI-appointed panel.
