A cloud of uncertainty looms over the opening Ranji Trophy fixture for Arunachal Pradesh, scheduled to begin on October 11, after a fierce internal power struggle crippled the state cricket body. Bitter infighting among key officials has completely derailed the squad selection process, leaving serious doubts over whether the team will be able to take the field for its inaugural clash of the domestic season.
Selection Vacuum and High Court Deadlock
The administrative crisis within the Arunachal Pradesh Cricket Association has escalated to the Itanagar bench of the Gauhati High Court. Because of the ongoing factional feud and legal wrangling, the state association currently lacks any authorized individual or functional panel empowered to take official decisions regarding player selection. This total leadership void has brought preparations to a standstill and jeopardized the squad's readiness for the premier red-ball tournament.
This is not the first time the administrative turmoil has disrupted cricketing commitments. Earlier, Arunachal Pradesh failed to field its squad for an Under-19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy encounter against Sikkim in Bhubaneswar. The same dysfunction has now hit the senior circuit, leaving selected players completely in the dark about whether they need to travel to Ahmedabad to take on Nagaland in their opening Ranji Trophy contest or remain grounded at home.
Roots of the Crisis in Contested September Elections
The controversy stems directly from the Arunachal Pradesh Cricket Association elections held in September. Nabam Vivek emerged as the elected president during that exercise, but several district cricket associations swiftly contested the outcome. Accusing the leadership of electoral malpractice and procedural fraud, the aggrieved district bodies approached the High Court. The court has since concluded hearings from all sides and reserved its verdict on the matter.
BCCI Intervention Constrained by Ongoing Litigation
Until the court pronounces its reserved judgment, the cricket association is legally barred from moving forward with team selection. This ongoing litigation has also tied the hands of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), preventing the national governing body from appointing an independent selection committee for the state. While the BCCI had previously stepped in during a similar governance impasse in Bihar by establishing a specialized panel that selected the Bihar squad, legal constraints in Arunachal Pradesh currently restrict such administrative rescue measures.
