Published: August 28, 2026 at 9:50 pm
Is the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) making league cricket redundant? Selections, over the years, have been done on the basis of performances in the leagues but his year due to paucity of time, the HCA officials have ‘placed a structure for selections’ which does not have to depend on the conduct of the leagues.
On Friday, the HCA sent out a press release which says, “Ahead of selections for this year’s (2026-27) BCCI Under-19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy (One-Day format), the Hyderabad Cricket Association has placed a structure for selections through the following process.
“Since the One-Day leagues for A-Division and B-Division are yet to happen this season, HCA has introduced an additional layer of selection matches, to be played before the Under-19 One Day Super League, after which the Under-19 men’s main state team selection for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy 2026-27 will be done,” says the release.
Paucity of time due to poor planning
The BCCI had released the domestic calendar on May 20, 2026, and there was sufficient time for the HCA officials to plan the season. But unfortunately, the officials were so caught up with the TG20 that they had no time to look at the league cricket and plan it accordingly so that the players will get enough opportunities to stake their claim for the state teams.
The whole of June and most part of July was not utilized for conducting the leagues as the HCA had to cater to the high-profile TG20 tournament. If only the officials had given proper priority and planning to league cricket, they would not have the need for such ‘structure for selections’.
Sporting XI emerge A Div (2-day) champions after beating Jai Hanuman by 227 runs in final
Even the two-day A Division league was a hurried affair with players having to play two matches in a week (Monday and Tuesday and then Thursday and Friday). To top it, rain washed out a couple of matches. Sporting XI, who on Friday defeated Jai Hanuman in the final, played four matches in their group with two no result games. AOC had three no result games, while Evergreen and Budding Stars had two each in Group A. In Group C, Marredpally Colts, Cambridge XI and Central Excise had two no result games each.
Was there a real need to conduct the TG20 in June/July when there are no BCCI T20 tournaments for which players have to be selected? Shouldn’t the same period have been used for league cricket (2-days and one-days)?
The Hyderabad Under-19 team, which had won the Vinoo Mankad Trophy 2025-26, was felicitated on the final day of the TG20
For the record, Hyderabad had won their maiden Vinoo Mankad Trophy in November last year after the Aaron George-led side had defeated Punjab. As defending champions, Hyderabad will have their task cut out in the tournament.
Selectors to pick 12 teams of 15 players each
According to the new ‘structure for selections’, a notice of which given to the Junior Selection Committee on August 22, 2026, the panel will pick 12 teams, with 15 players in each team, for the Under-19 category. The selectors were supposed to pick the teams and submit the list to the Cricket Operations Committee (COC) by August 25. With the first-round matches to be held from August 31, it remains to be seen when the HCA releases the list of players selected for the 12 teams.
The teams will be divided into two equal groups of six teams each. Every team will play the other team within its group and thus each team will get to play five matches. The format will be 50-overs each side games.
The HCA notice also outlines the criteria for selecting the 12 teams. The selectors will choose players based on the following criteria:
Players who were part of state teams in the previous season for the Under-19 category, players who played for the Under-16 state team last year and have crossed the Under-16 age group for this season, and the performers from the Under 16 category.
Performances in this season’s (2026-27) and last season’s (2025-26) relevant leagues, and TG20 (2026-27).
From the Open Trials that was conducted during May-June 2026 at Gymkhana grounds.
Six teams for Super League
After the first round of matches, which will be held from August 31 to September 7, the selectors will again shortlist players for six teams and these teams will play the ‘official HCA Under-19 men’s One Day Super League’. Every team will play 5 matches.
After the Super League, the selectors will pick the final Under-19 men’s state team for the BCCI Vinoo Mankad Trophy 2026-27.
