Ranji Trophy 2026: Arunachal Pradesh Forfeit Opener Against Nagaland Amid Cricket Association Dispute, High Court Case

New Delhi, Oct 11: Arunachal Pradesh have forfeited their Ranji Trophy Plate Group opener against Nagaland, which was scheduled to begin on Sunday in Ahmedabad, amid an administrative crisis in the state cricket association stemming from a dispute between two warring factions and a case pending before the Itanagar bench of the Gauhati High Court.

The forfeiture comes after Arunachal Pradesh failed to field their Under-19 team for a Vinoo Mankad Trophy match against Sikkim in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, with the ongoing dispute leaving the association without a functioning authority to take decisions on team selection.

Association elections spark legal dispute

The association held its elections in September, with Nabam Vivek elected as president. However, multiple district associations subsequently approached the Gauhati High Court, alleging irregularities in the polls.

The High Court has reserved its order in the matter, preventing the BCCI from intervening and constituting an independent selection panel, as it did in the case of Bihar.

BCCI awaits court clearance

"There is a stay order from the court and the BCCI cannot step in. There is no one running the state body. Until the court gives the clearance, we cannot do anything,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had told PTI.

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Arunachal Pradesh's Plate Group record

Arunachal Pradesh had finished at the bottom of the Plate Group standings last season, losing all five of their matches.

Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Sikkim are the other teams in the Plate Group alongside Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

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