No review needed for Bengal-Gujarat rescheduled tie decision, CAB tells BCCI

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) on Monday wrote to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), contending that it would be a violation of the rules if the abandoned Ranji Trophy between Bengal and Gujarat is not rescheduled.

After the BCCI decided to reschedule the Bengal-Gujarat Ranji Trophy Group A match - abandoned without a ball being bowled last month at the Feroze Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi due to smog, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) and Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) have voiced their unhappiness.

Countering the move of the TNCA and the MCA, CAB Joint Secretary Avishek Dalmiya wrote to BCCI President Anurag Thakur stating "it is humbly submitted that the decision adopted by the BCCI (to play the match between December 15-18) for rescheduling the match is correct and appropriate. The same is also beyond the scope of any review both in factual as well as constitutional powers."

Tamil Nadu has said it would be unfair to the other teams in Group A as it gives a big advantage to Bengal and Gujarat in their quest for entering the last eight stage as the two teams now know exactly what they need to do in that tie.

Mumbai are top of the Group A table with 29 points from seven matches while third-placed Tamil Nadu have 23 points from seven games. Tamil Nadu play their last league game against second-placed Gujarat from December 7 while Mumbai lock horns with Punjab on the same day. The top three teams progress to the quarterfinals.

Requesting that the "decision take by the BCCI based on supervening extraordinary unavoidable dangerous condition be not reviewed", Dalmiya said "otherwise the same would be not merely unfair but also contrary to regulatory provisions of the BCCI and the principles of natural justice."

"Clause 3.5.3 of the Playing Conditions for Multi-day Matches (Men) expressly stipulates amongst others, that if the situation is so bad that there is obvious and foreseeable risk to safety of player and would be unreasonable or dangerous for play to take place warranting immediate suspension/abandonment, the Umpires in consultation with the Match Referee may not allow the play to "commence"," the letter further read.

The CAB also pleaded that the matter be looked into by the technical committee and not the tournament committee abiding by "existing BCCI rules". CAB president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly, incidentally, is the technical committee chairman.

The board's technical committee had decided to reschedule the abandoned November 6-9 game.

--IANS

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