BCCI to hold Hazare Trophy as per state units' wish, no Ranji Trophy for first time in 87 years
New Delhi: The BCCI will not be conducting its premier first-class domestic tournament Ranji Trophy for the first time in 87 years as the parent body opted for the Vijay Hazare Trophy as per the wishes of majority of the state units.
The BCCI will also host the U-19 National One Day tournament for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and the Women's national 50-over tournament as per a letter sent by BCCI secretary Jay Shah to the state units.
While BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Shah were keen to have the blue riband tournament that pays the maximum match fee (Rs 1.5 lakh per game approx) for the players, it is understood that a two-month long bio-bubble even for a truncated two-phased Ranji Trophy in times of the COVID-19 pandemic wasn't feasible.
"I am extremely happy to inform you that we are going to conduct the Senior Women's One Day tournament simultaneously with the Vijay Hazare Trophy and follow it up with Vinoo Mankad Trophy Under-19. This has been decided after having received your feedback on the domestic season 2020-21," Shah wrote a letter to state units, which is in possession of PTI.
It is understood that BCCI will probably follow the same groupings and bio-bubble for the Hazare Trophy that will start next month.
Shah in his letter spoke about how difficult it was to plan out the domestic calendar for the season in the post COVID world.
"As you are aware, we have lost a lot of time and consequently, it has been difficult to plan the cricket calendar on account of the precautions that are necessary for the safe conduct of the games," Shah wrote.
The BCCI during its AGM had decided that players will be compensated in case there is a truncated season and with players missing out on Ranji Trophy match fees, it is expected that the board will devise a mechanism by which the premier domestic cricketers of the country are taken care of financially.
Shah, in his letter, thanked the state units which successfully conducted the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament.
"I write this with some satisfaction and whole lot of gratitude towards the state associations and staff of the BCCI for the successful conduct of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament so far after having delivered a flawless IPL earlier," Shah wrote.
He also informed the members that preparations for the England series is in full swing.
"The preparations for the England tour of India which commences on 5th February onwards, are in full swing and there is a lot of excitement around it after the historic tour of Australia where, as you are aware, the team had performed miraculously under extremely trying circumstances," he said.
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Bill to prevent hate speech and hate crime tabled in Karnataka assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka government on Wednesday tabled the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crime (Prevention) Bill in the state Assembly.
The bill has a provision for a fine up to Rs one lakh and a jail term up to 10 years.
The bill was cleared by the state cabinet on December 4.
According to the bill, any expression, which is made, published or circulated in words either spoken or written or by signs or by visible representations or through electronic communication or otherwise, in public view, with an intention to cause injury, disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will against person alive or dead, class or group of persons or community, to meet any prejudicial interest is hate speech.
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Any biases on the grounds of religion, race, caste or community, sex, gender, sexual orientation, place of birth, residence, language, disability, or tribe has also been categorised as hate speech.
The 'Hate Crime' has been defined as communication of hate speech, by making, publishing or circulating or any act of promoting, propagating, inciting or abetting or attempting, such hate speech, to cause disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will against any person dead or alive or group of persons or organisation.
Communicating hate speech has been defined as expression, made in public view, by way of verbal, print, publication, electronic means, or other means to convey such expression.
Whoever commits hate crime will be punished with imprisonment for a term which should not be less than one year, but may extend to seven years with a fine of Rs 50,000.
Further, for any subsequent or repetitive offences the punishment should not be less than two years which may extend to 10 years with fine of Rs one lakh.
