Arunachal Pradesh's first match in the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season has been cancelled. Arunachal Pradesh was scheduled to start its campaign against Nagaland in the Plate Group but could not field its team, after which the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) canceled the match. BCCI had to take this decision due to the ongoing factionalism in Arunachal Pradesh Cricket Association (APCA).
The teams of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland were scheduled to face each other at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad from today (Sunday) but before that an official of BCCI's Cricket Operations team told Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) that this match will not take place. After this Nagaland got a walkover. Now the Arunachal Pradesh team is in danger of being suspended for the rest of the season.
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What are the reasons for the cancellation of Arunachal's match?
There is currently a dispute going on between two groups in Arunachal cricket. Due to this, all the work related to cricket has stopped. APCA could neither organize a pre-season camp nor have its team selected, due to which it could not field its team. Earlier on Thursday, Arunachal Pradesh could not field its Under-19 team in the 50-over Vinoo Mankad Trophy match against Sikkim in Bhubaneswar. At present there is no person in APCA who can take decisions on selection related matters.
Arunachal Pradesh's first CK Nayudu Trophy match has also been cancelled. He was to play this match against Manipur in Shillong from 12th October.
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What kind of factionalism is going on in APCA?
Nabam Vivek was elected president in the APCA elections held in September. After this, six district cricket associations moved the Itanagar bench of the Gauhati High Court alleging irregularities in the elections. At present the High Court has reserved its decision in this matter. BCCI also cannot form an Independent Selection Committee due to the case being pending in the court. For this reason the Arunachal Pradesh match was cancelled.
BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia had already made it clear that there is a stay order of the court and the board cannot interfere in it. He had said that there is no one to run APCA. We cannot do anything until we get approval from the court.