Happy days are here again!

Mumbai players celebrate the dismissal of a Madhya Pradesh batsman in a 2019-20 Ranji match at Wankhede. Pic/Suresh Karkera

The Indian cricket board announced its schedule for all domestic tournaments on Saturday, which was sweet music to the ears of this city's first-class cricketers, who are itching for action.

With Covid-19 ruining the 2020-21 home season, it is hoped that things improve and this season's domestic cricket plans are not disrupted by the pandemic.

As per BCCI's plan, the men's season will kick off with the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament on October 20. The 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy is scheduled to be held from February 23 next year.

"The season will commence on September 21, 2021, with the Senior Women's One Day League and will be followed by the Senior Women's One Day Challenger Trophy, which will take place from October 27, 2021," BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a media release.

The Ranji Trophy will be played from November 16, 2021 to February 19, 2022 while the Hazare final is slated for March 26, 2022.

"The BCCI is confident of hosting the domestic season with health and safety of players and all people involved being paramount," Shah added.

However, there was no mention of the Irani Cup, Duleep and Deodhar Trophies, all important events in earlier years.

mid-day spoke to some Mumbai cricketing personalities on BCCI's Saturday evening announcement.

Aditya Tare, Mumbai wicketkeeper-batsman
This is positive news for first-class cricket. Ranji Trophy is our premier and best domestic tournament. We first-class players always enjoy playing it; we missed it last season. The tournament provides domestic cricketers major remuneration. A minimum of 300 players will get around R10 to 15 lakh each from this first-class season, so it's a big positive in terms of financial gains too. This announcement will also help cricketers to mentally prepare well in advance
since they know the exact schedule.

Tushar Deshpande, Mumbai pacer
This is confidence-boosting news. The Ranji Trophy is a step towards the ultimate goal - India Test team - and everyone needs to perform their best at first-class level. We have big opportunities in the multi-day format to take wickets and make it to the next level. Last season, we had only limited-overs tournaments and that too in a very short span, so the time to prepare was very less. But now, with the domestic schedule announced well in advance, it will help all cricketers to prepare well.

Hemangi Naik, Mumbai senior women's team coach
Last season, the BCCI had only one tournament for senior women, a one-day competition. But this season, there are tournaments in different formats [senior, U-23 and U-19] so it will be good exposure for us; ample opportunities. However, the BCCI needs to take care of the longer format tournaments for us. The BCCI had the Senior Inter-Zone tournament [three-day format] last in 2017. If they reintroduce that tournament, it will help women's cricketers to increase patience at the crease and better their performance. I hear women's teams in other states have started their preparations so it will be good if the Mumbai Cricket Association can organise a camp for the probables and have practice sessions.

Suved Parkar, Former India U-19 and current Mumbai U-23 batsman
Plans to get competitive cricket back provides a nice and positive feeling. No tournaments being held last season gave rise to a tough period mentally. But I tried to keep my focus and prepared, keeping in mind that there will be a season next year and so I should be ready for it. That was the only motivation for me.
I know if I perform well in the U-23 tournament, I will get a chance in the Ranji Trophy.

Sayali Satghare, Mumbai senior women's team skipper
Last season, we had only one tournament, the senior one-day team event. But this time, we will have more tournaments in different formats for the senior, U-23 and U-19 teams. It will be almost a full season and it's a big plus to conduct all tournaments. We will get more matches to play, something that we missed last season due to the lockdown.

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Schedule

Men Senior:
. Syed Mushtaq Ali T20: October 20-November 12
. Ranji Trophy: November 16-February 19
. Vijay Hazare: February 23-March 26

U-23:
. CK Nayudu Trophy: November 18-February 12
. State A team one-dayers: February 23-March 26

U-19:
. Vinoo Mankad Trophy: September 28-October 29
. Challenger Trophy: November 3-9
. Cooch Behar Trophy: November 14-February 7

U-16:
. Vijay Merchant Trophy: October 1-December 6

Women Senior:
. One Day League: September 21-October 22
. One Day Challenger: October 27-31
. T20 League: March 19- April 11

U-23:
. T20 League: January 17-February 7
. One-day League: February 11-March 15

U-19:
. One Day League: October 1-31
. T20 League: November 4-27
. One Day Challenger Trophy: December 1-5