Arunachal Pradesh Risk Forfeiting Ranji Opener Amid Feud

Arunachal Pradesh are in danger of forfeiting their Plate Group Ranji Trophy opener against Nagaland, scheduled to begin on 11 October in Ahmedabad, because of an ongoing internal dispute within the state cricket association and a pending case before the Itanagar bench of the Gauhati High Court. The administrative paralysis has already cost the state its participation in junior competitions and left contracted players without clarity on whether they should report for the senior tournament.

At present, there is no functioning authority within the Arunachal Pradesh Cricket Association capable of taking decisions on team selection or travel arrangements. The uncertainty has placed the state’s entire domestic season under a cloud.

How the Dispute Arose

The Arunachal Pradesh Cricket Association conducted its elections in September. Nabam Vivek was elected president. Shortly afterwards, six district associations—Lower Siang, Upper Subansiri, Kamle, Tawang, West Siang and Papum Pare—approached the High Court alleging irregularities in the conduct of the polls and demanding fresh elections.

The court heard arguments in the first week of September and reserved its judgement. An interim stay on the functioning of the association has left the body without an operational leadership. As a result, no selection camps have been held and no official communication has gone out to players regarding the new season.

Impact Already Felt at Junior Level

The consequences became visible when Arunachal Pradesh failed to field its Under-19 team for a Vinoo Mankad Trophy one-day match against Sikkim in Bhubaneswar. Under BCCI playing conditions, the opposition is likely to be awarded the points. The same administrative vacuum has also affected the state’s participation in the Under-19 Women’s T20 Trophy.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has confirmed the board’s limited options. Because the matter is sub-judice, the BCCI cannot step in to appoint an independent selection panel or administrator in the way it has done in other states facing similar crises in the past. “There is a stay order from the court and the BCCI cannot step in,” Saikia has stated. “There is no body functioning in the Arunachal Cricket Association. Until the court gives the clearance, we cannot do anything.”

Players Left in Limbo

Professional players who were contracted to represent Arunachal Pradesh this season have received no instructions about reporting to Ahmedabad. Without a recognised selection committee or office-bearers empowered to act, the squad remains undefined. Travel, accommodation and other logistical arrangements that would normally be handled by the state association have not been initiated.

The situation is particularly difficult for a side that finished at the bottom of the Plate Group last season with five losses in five matches. For a team already struggling for competitive continuity, the loss of preparation time and the possibility of an opening-match forfeit represent a significant setback.

Potential Consequences of Forfeiture

If Arunachal Pradesh are unable to field a side against Nagaland, they risk forfeiting the fixture. Under BCCI regulations, repeated or significant non-participation can lead to further sanctions, including the possibility of suspension for the remainder of the season. Such an outcome would deprive the state’s players of an entire year of first-class cricket and set back development efforts in a region that has only relatively recently gained full BCCI membership.

The other teams in the Plate Group—Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim and Nagaland—will continue their campaigns. Arunachal’s absence would leave an incomplete group and raise questions about the fairness of the competition structure for the remaining sides.

A Broader Problem of Governance

Factional disputes within state cricket associations are not new in Indian domestic cricket. In several smaller associations, elections have frequently been followed by legal challenges that disrupt the sporting calendar. What makes the present case more acute is the timing. With the Ranji Trophy about to begin and junior tournaments already under way, the window for a practical solution has become extremely narrow.

The BCCI has previously intervened in states such as Bihar by appointing independent committees when administrative breakdowns occurred. In Arunachal Pradesh, the existence of an active court stay prevents similar action. The board is effectively waiting for the High Court to deliver its reserved judgement before any administrative steps can be taken.

What Needs to Happen Next

The immediate priority is a clear judicial decision that either restores a functioning association or provides a temporary framework under which cricket can resume. Until that happens, selection, preparation and participation remain impossible. Players who have trained in the expectation of representing their state are the primary casualties of the prolonged uncertainty.

For a cricket association still building its competitive identity, prolonged absence from the domestic calendar carries long-term costs. Young players lose match exposure, coaching structures lose continuity, and the state’s ability to attract and retain talent is weakened.

As the 11 October start date approaches, Arunachal Pradesh’s Ranji Trophy campaign hangs in the balance. Whether the side takes the field against Nagaland or is forced to forfeit will depend on how quickly the legal and administrative deadlock can be resolved. For now, the state’s cricketers remain spectators to a dispute that has moved from the boardroom and the courtroom into the middle of their season.

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