By IANS
Mumbai : The Indian cricket board has decided to discontinue the under-19 Vijay Hazare Trophy inter-zonal one-day competition from the forthcoming domestic season.
However, the trophy in memory of the former Test captain will now be awarded to the Ranji one-day champions from 2007-08, it was announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) here Friday.
The decision to do away with the under-19 tournament was taken by the BCCI's tours and programmes fixtures committee that met here earlier this week and also decided to split the under-15 Polly Umrigar Trophy into the elite and plate format on the lines of the Ranji Trophy.
The BCCI has also decided to increase the duration of matches in the under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy and under-22 Col C K Nayudu Trophy from three to four days each.
Announcing the changes, BCCI's chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty said there would be a tournament for under-19 and senior women this year.
The coming cricket season will commence with the Irani Trophy tie between Ranji Trophy winners Mumbai and the Rest of India in Rajkot from October 1 to 5, followed by the N.K.P. Salve Challenger Series from October 24 to 27 at a yet undecided venue.
The Ranji Trophy elite and plate division league matches will be held from November 4 to December 25 and November 4 to December 9 respectively, with the knockout rounds from December 15 and January 2.
The Duleep Trophy zonal league will be played from January 24 to February 12 with the five-day final from Feb 17.