Scrap Hazare, Duleep and Deodhar Trophy this season, says former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer

Mumbai, June 15

Former India opener and domestic stalwart Wasim Jaffer feels Vijay Hazare, Duleep and Deodhar Trophy should be scrapped this season in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and instead that time should be used to conduct a full-fledged Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 competition.

Jaffer wants a rejigged domestic season to ensure that the players get enough breaks and are not rushed into tournaments.

The domestic season is expected to start in August but with the coronavirus cases rising rapidly in the country, the BCCI has so far adopted a wait and watch policy on resumption of activities.

“As and when the season commences, whenever cricket starts, the priority is to have the IPL first. The BCCI can look to start with the IPL as the first tournament,” Jaffer told PTI on Monday.

The BCCI has zeroed in on a September-October window for the IPL but that is subject to the fate of Asia Cup and T20 World Cup, which are scheduled in the same window.

“Once the IPL finishes, the BCCI can look to start the domestic season with the Irani Trophy (Cup) as Saurashtra deserves to play it as they are first-time champions.”

“Then we can start the Ranji Trophy. And before the (IPL) auction, as and when BCCI keeps the auction for next year’s IPL, we should have the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy and scrap the Vijay Hazare, Duleep Trophy and Deodhar Trophy and use that period to hold these major two tournaments with adequate breaks for players,” added Jaffer.

He reasoned that the rejig will ensure that players will have enough time to prepare.

“Use those two months of Vijay Hazare and Duleep trophy. And it probably goes into junior level also, try and scrap the ODI tournaments in U-23 or U-19, so that the players will get sufficient breaks and they can look forward to these tournaments,” explained the highest run-getter in Ranji Trophy. — PTI