BCCI steps in with direct selection trials for Arunachal Pradesh teams to end forfeiture crisis
Synopsis
The BCCI has taken the rare step of directly conducting selection trials in Itanagar after Arunachal Pradesh's rival cricket factions paralysed the state's participation in the domestic season — forfeiting a Ranji Trophy match and skipping two other tournaments. An independent panel of three former Assam cricketers, bypassing the ACA entirely, is now picking squads to keep the state in contention.
Key Takeaways
The BCCI is directly conducting selection trials in Itanagar for Arunachal Pradesh men's and women's teams after the Arunachal Cricket Association (ACA) was paralysed by a factional legal dispute.
Arunachal Pradesh forfeited their Ranji Trophy opener against Nagaland in Ahmedabad and earlier missed the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and Under-19 Women's T20 Trophy .
Apex Council member M.
Khairul Jamal Majumdar has been appointed as convener by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia .
A panel of three former Assam cricketers — Satya Gopal Chakraborty (chairman), Jayanta Chowdhury , and Deep Bora — is conducting the trials independently of the ACA.
Trials on 13 October 2026 at Delhi Public School, Itanagar covered Senior Women's , Boys U-16 , Men's U-23 , and Senior Men's squads.
Teams are being prepared for the Ranji Trophy , Col CK Nayudu Trophy , Senior Women's T20 Trophy , and Vijay Merchant Trophy .
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has directly intervened to organise selection trials for Arunachal Pradesh men's and women's age-group and senior cricket teams, aiming to prevent further forfeitures and keep the state's squads active in the 2024-25 domestic season. The move comes after a prolonged legal deadlock between two rival factions of the Arunachal Cricket Association (ACA) before the Guwahati High Court's Itanagar Bench left the state's cricketing calendar in disarray.
Background: A Season Derailed by Legal Deadlock
Arunachal Pradesh forfeited their opening Ranji Trophy fixture against Nagaland in Ahmedabad, having earlier failed to participate in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and the Under-19 Women's T20 Trophy. The non-participation, attributed to the ongoing factional dispute within the ACA, prompted the BCCI to bypass the state association entirely and take direct charge of the selection process. This marks an unusual but not unprecedented step by the board to protect a state unit's competitive standing.
What the BCCI Has Put in Place
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that Apex Council member M. Khairul Jamal Majumdar, also known as Mamon, has been appointed as convener for the trials. 'Yes, trials are going on in Arunachal Pradesh. The BCCI has appointed M. Khairul Jamal Majumdar as the convener to conduct trials because we cannot allow the teams to go without participating in this season's domestic competitions,' Saikia said.
He added: 'The association is not involved in these trials, as the BCCI is directly conducting the trials and we are trying to send the teams from Arunachal to Ranji Trophy and games in other tournaments, which will be happening in the coming days.'
The Independent Selection Panel
A panel of three former Assam cricketers — Satya Gopal Chakraborty, Jayanta Chowdhury, and Deep Bora — has been brought in from outside the state to ensure neutrality. Chakraborty has been named chairman of selectors for the trials. Their brief covers picking squads for the Ranji Trophy, Col CK Nayudu Trophy, Senior Women's T20 Trophy, and Vijay Merchant Trophy.
Trials Under Way in Itanagar
A local source confirmed that selection trials were held at Delhi Public School, Itanagar, beginning at 8 am on 13 October 2026. The trials covered squads for the Senior Women's, Boys Under-16, Men's Under-23, and Senior Men's teams. Notably, the ACA — mired in its court battle — has been kept entirely out of the process.
What Happens Next
With trials now concluded or under way, the BCCI aims to field Arunachal Pradesh teams in the remaining fixtures of the domestic calendar at the earliest. The court proceedings between the two ACA factions continue, but the board's direct intervention ensures that players from the state are not left as collateral damage in an administrative dispute. Whether the Guwahati High Court's eventual ruling will restore normalcy to the ACA's functioning remains to be seen.
Point of View
The board is right to intervene. But the intervention also raises a harder question: how did the dispute reach this point without earlier BCCI mediation? The board's constitutional powers over affiliated associations are substantial, yet they were invoked only after forfeitures had already occurred. The real fix — resolving the ACA's administrative legitimacy — still lies with the Guwahati High Court, and no number of independent selectors will substitute for that.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the BCCI directly conducting trials for Arunachal Pradesh cricket teams?
The BCCI stepped in because a legal dispute between two factions of the Arunachal Cricket Association (ACA) in the Guwahati High Court's Itanagar Bench left the state unable to field teams. Arunachal Pradesh had already forfeited their Ranji Trophy opener and missed the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and Under-19 Women's T20 Trophy.
Who is overseeing the BCCI-conducted trials in Arunachal Pradesh?
Apex Council member M. Khairul Jamal Majumdar has been appointed as convener by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia. A panel of three former Assam cricketers — Satya Gopal Chakraborty (chairman), Jayanta Chowdhury, and Deep Bora — is conducting the actual selection trials independently of the ACA.
Which tournaments will Arunachal Pradesh now participate in?
The BCCI is working to field Arunachal Pradesh teams in the Ranji Trophy, Col CK Nayudu Trophy, Senior Women's T20 Trophy, and Vijay Merchant Trophy. Trials for Senior Women's, Boys Under-16, Men's Under-23, and Senior Men's squads were held in Itanagar on 13 October 2026.
What caused Arunachal Pradesh to forfeit their Ranji Trophy match?
The forfeit stemmed from a factional dispute within the Arunachal Cricket Association, with two rival groups locked in litigation before the Guwahati High Court's Itanagar Bench. The deadlock prevented the association from functioning normally, leaving no authority able to select or send teams.
Is the Arunachal Cricket Association involved in the current trials?
No. The BCCI has deliberately excluded the ACA from these trials, as both factions remain under litigation. The board is conducting the trials directly, with selectors drawn from outside the state to ensure neutrality.
