Arunachal Pradesh are set to forfeit their Ranji Trophy Plate group opener against Nagaland, Sportstar reported on 9 October 2026. The match was due to begin on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Quick Facts
| Match | Arunachal Pradesh v Nagaland, Ranji Trophy Plate group |
| Venue | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Reason | Legal dispute between two factions of the Arunachal Cricket Association |
| Possible consequence | Suspension for the rest of the season |
| Players’ request | BCCI intervention |
Why There Is No Team
The dispute has left the state association unable to hold selection or organise preparations for the season.
Nagaland have already arrived in Ahmedabad. Arunachal’s players are still waiting to learn whether they can take part.
Under the rules, a team that forfeits a match could be suspended for the rest of the season.
Not Only the Seniors
On Thursday, Arunachal Pradesh also failed to field an Under-19 team for its Vinoo Mankad Trophy opener against Sikkim in Bhubaneswar.
What the Players Say
“We do not know much about the legalities of the matter, but if we cannot play this season, a lot of careers will be affected,” said Kamsha Yangfo, a former captain.
“This is the first time we have faced such an issue, so we do not know what to do next or whom to approach.”
A Livelihood at Stake
Fast-bowling all-rounder Mibom Mosu, a former trainee at the MRF Pace Foundation, said players depend on the game for their income.
“I live in rented accommodation in Itanagar, and all my earnings come from cricket. I do not have a job,” he said.
“Coming from the northeastern corner of the country, our biggest dream is to see a boy from our region play in the IPL or for India. For that to happen, we need our state association to provide us with the right platform.”
He also pointed to gaps in facilities at home. “There is no proper rehabilitation centre for injured players either,” he said.
Seven Years of Progress at Risk
Arunachal Pradesh have had a place in domestic cricket for the past seven years, Mosu noted. A season lost would cost players match practice, form and the chance to be noticed.
Source: Sportstar (9 October 2026).
Featured image: The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where the match was scheduled, during a Test in March 2023 (file photo). Photo by the Prime Minister’s Office, licensed under Government Open Data License – India, via Wikimedia Commons.