National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman is working to reinstate the India A tour program, a vital initiative originally set up by his predecessor, Rahul Dravid. The tours, which were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, had previously served as a crucial platform for developing India’s bench strength and providing exposure to emerging cricketers.
Challenges in restarting India A tours
The COVID pandemic forced boards worldwide to cut costs, halting the India A tours entirely. Even though the pandemic has subsided, many boards have expressed an inability to bear the expenses of hosting an India A team. This financial challenge has limited such tours to only two in the past year—one before the South Africa series and a shadow tour to Australia ahead of India’s Test matches.
A BCCI source stated:
“Other boards have communicated to the BCCI that they can’t bear the expenses of an ‘A’ tour. These tours don’t generate revenue, and the expenses must be borne by the local board. Laxman is working on a plan to make these tours more feasible and impactful.”
Importance of India A tours
The tours have historically been pivotal for talent identification and preparation. For instance, an India A series against England Lions earlier this year gave selectors critical insights into player performance before the senior series.
The program not only builds a robust bench but also allows selectors to evaluate players in different conditions and against high-quality opposition.
Ensuring Ranji Trophy remains unaffected
One concern raised is the overlap of Emerging tournaments and other assignments with the Ranji Trophy schedule. This has led to nearly 60 players missing key Ranji matches this season, which impacts the quality of the tournament. The BCCI aims to address this to maintain Ranji Trophy’s importance in the domestic circuit.