Sunil Joshi wants the BCCI to commence Cricket season with Syed Mushtaq Ali T20

Sunil Joshi, former India and Karnataka left arm spinner and currently the chief selector of the Indian Cricket team, held a meeting with his fellow selectors on a conference call recently. Apparently, according to the Mumbai Mirror, the selection panel wants the BCCI to start the season with the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, India’s premier domestic T20 tournament. Staging it before IPL will, of course, help the players to prepare for the T20 league and the T20 World Cup.

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The international players mostly opt against playing domestic cricket but given the present situation, we might see all the International stars turn up for their respective state teams after a long time, in order to prepare for the major tournaments lying ahead. Virat Kohli, who last played a domestic game for his home state Delhi 7 years ago in the NKP Salve Challenger series held at the Holkar Stadium, Indore, will join his state team with the probability of being joined by national teammates Shikhar Dhawan and Rishabh Pant. Rohit Sharma did play domestic cricket in 2018 but a Test recall meant he could not play for Mumbai thereafter.
MS Dhoni might also ply his trade in the T20 tournament if BCCI accepts selectors’ suggestion. Since all the matches of the league are not televised, BCCI will face no real issues in staging the tournament behind the closed doors. The board is likely to stage another meeting after the end of the third phase of lockdown to discuss the future of IPL and domestic season.

India is now entering the third phase of lockdown. The lockdown, which began on March 25, has not yet been withdrawn. Following this, the BCCI has postponed the 13th season of the IPL indefinitely. The IPL was supposed to start on March 29, but the BCCI is apprehensive over the question of whether the IPL will be held this year. The BCCI is also looking at other options of hosting the marquee T20 League, they are considering whether the tournament could be held in another window this year. With doubts over the global T20 event later this year, BCCI would look to target that window.