Arunachal Pradesh faces the risk of missing its opening Ranji Trophy Plate Group match against Nagaland on 11 October in Ahmedabad, due to an ongoing power struggle within the state cricket association and a legal dispute before the Gauhati High Court’s Itanagar bench.
The crisis escalated on Thursday when the state’s Under‑19 side could not take the field for a 50‑over Vinoo Mankad Trophy fixture against Sikkim in Bhubaneswar, leaving the tournament fixture unresolved.
With no functioning authority in place, the association is currently unable to make selection decisions for the senior team.
Professional players contracted for this season are also left in uncertainty, unaware whether they should report to the Ahmedabad camp for the Ranji opener.
The Arunachal Pradesh Cricket Association held elections in September, resulting in Nabam Vivek’s presidency. However, several district associations challenged the polls in the Gauhati High Court, citing alleged irregularities.
The court has reserved its judgment, preventing the BCCI from appointing an independent selection panel—as it has done for Bihar—because the case remains sub‑judice. “There is a stay order from the court and the BCCI cannot step in,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told PTI. “There is no one running the state body. Until the court gives the clearance, we cannot do anything.”
Attempts to reach Vivek, the elected president, were unsuccessful.
The Plate Group also includes Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim and Nagaland. Arunachal Pradesh finished bottom of the group last season, losing all five of its matches.
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