High Court Order Replaces Entire Meghalaya Playing XI Ahead of Nagaland Clash
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In an unprecedented administrative upheaval in Indian domestic cricket, the Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) replaced its entire Ranji Trophy squad merely 48 hours before their Plate Division encounter against Nagaland. The dramatic overhaul unfolded while players who had featured across the first three rounds of the 2026-27 tournament were actively preparing in the nets for round four. A ruling from the Meghalaya High Court invalidated the earlier squad chosen by the association's Apex Council, compelling MCA President James Sangma to assemble an entirely fresh roster to take the field, leaving established senior professionals stranded and sparking widespread discontent across the domestic circuit.
High Court Strikes Down Suspended Secretary's Squad Amid Governance Turmoil
The crisis stems from an escalating power struggle between MCA President James Sangma and Honorary Secretary Reynold Kharkamni. Kharkamni had earlier been placed under suspension over allegations of administrative inaction regarding sexual harassment complaints filed by members of the Meghalaya Under-23 women’s cricket team. Evaluating the dispute, the Meghalaya High Court ruled that decisions issued under Kharkamni's authority lacked legal validity, nullifying the Ranji Trophy team selected via the Apex Council’s disputed framework. Acting on the judicial verdict, the association was legally mandated to scrap the existing team sheet and authorize a newly constituted lineup under the president's initiative just two days prior to the match against Nagaland.
BCCI Compelled to Follow Court Mandate as Dropped Players Express Shock
Addressing the unprecedented situation, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the cricket board had no statutory choice but to abide by the judicial decree, permitting the newly named squad to take the field. Meanwhile, dropped players voiced intense frustration over the sudden switch. Prolific veteran batsman Rahul Dalal revealed that the original squad was actively training over the weekend after receiving favorable updates, only to discover on Sunday evening that a parallel squad had been arranged to practice right after them. The sudden purge has cast a harsh spotlight on state association factionalism overshadowing player livelihoods and on-field sporting merit in India's premier first-class championship.
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