The Supreme Court said on Thursday that Bihar will play the Ranji Trophy and other domestic tournaments under the aegis of the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA).
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said that "the order has been passed keeping in view the cause of the cricket.
The court order came as Aditya Verma of the rival Cricket Association of Bihar told the court that ever since the formation of Jharkhand on Novermber 15, 2000, following the bifurcation of the state, Bihar did not get any opportunity to participate in the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy or any other domestic tournaments.
Verma said that in the absence Bihar's participation in domestic cricket tournaments, it was the players who were suffering. In an obvious pointer to RJD leader Lalu Prasad, Verma said that his son Tejashwi Yadav now played for Jharkhand.
Senior counsel Shekhar Naphade, appearing for the BCCI, told the court that the the BCA's membership went to the Jharkhand Cricket Association as it was headquarted at Jamshedpur -- which the BCCI recognised.
He told the court that Bihar Cricket Association enjoyed the status of associate member and would participate in domestic tournaments in 2018.
As this, Chief Justice Misra said that "we will record your statement". Naphade pointed out that there were other formalities to be completed for the state to participate in cricketing events under the BCA.
--IANS
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