Sports · Cricket · 9 hrs ago
Meghalaya replaces Ranji Trophy squad after High Court ruling
Meghalaya replaced its Ranji Trophy team before a Plate Division match against Nagaland in Shillong.
The new squad took the place of the team that had played the first three matches, including one win.
The change followed a High Court ruling that upheld the suspension of Meghalaya Cricket Association secretary Rayonald Kharkamni and invalidated decisions made by the association’s Apex Council, including its team selection.
The dispute involves association president James Sangma and Kharkamni, whose suspension followed allegations about how complaints of sexual harassment involving players in the state’s under-23 women’s team were handled.
Players left out of the new squad said they were dejected, after practising and expecting to play.
The BCCI accepted the replacement team, saying it had to respect the court ruling.
The Apex Council is preparing to challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court.
Meghalaya replaced all 11 players from its previous Ranji Trophy match for its Plate Group fixture against Nagaland after a High Court ruling invalidated the existing squad.
The ruling upheld the suspension of Meghalaya Cricket Association secretary Rayonald Kharkamni and deemed decisions taken under him illegal.
MCA president James Sangma’s faction selected the new squad, which took the field in Shillong.
Players from the earlier squad, who had played the first three matches, were left out and described as dejected.
The dispute stems from conflict between Sangma and the MCA Apex Council over Kharkamni’s suspension.
- Who
- Meghalaya’s Ranji Trophy team was replaced by a new squad selected by MCA president James Sangma’s faction.
- What
- All 11 players from the previous match were changed for the game against Nagaland after the High Court invalidated the existing squad.
- When
- The change came before Meghalaya’s fourth match of the 2026/27 Ranji Trophy season, against Nagaland on November 2.
- Where
- Shillong, Meghalaya.
- Why
- The High Court upheld the suspension of MCA secretary Rayonald Kharkamni and deemed decisions taken under him illegal, including the selection of the earlier squad.
MCA Apex Council faction
James Sangma’s faction
Squad selection
MCA Apex Council faction
The Apex Council’s squad had been recognised by the BCCI and played Meghalaya’s first three matches.
James Sangma’s faction
Sangma’s faction selected a new squad after the High Court invalidated the Apex Council’s team.
Kharkamni’s suspension
MCA Apex Council faction
The Apex Council challenged the suspension of secretary Rayonald Kharkamni.
James Sangma’s faction
The High Court upheld the suspension and held decisions taken by Kharkamni as illegal.
The Apex Council-selected squad played Meghalaya’s first three games and remained unbeaten, including one outright win.
The Meghalaya High Court upheld Kharkamni’s suspension and invalidated the Apex Council’s squad.
Meghalaya fielded a new 11-player team against Nagaland in Shillong.
- Competition
- 2026/27 Ranji Trophy, Plate Group
- Fixture
- Meghalaya v Nagaland, Shillong
- Squad change
- All 11 players changed from the previous match
- MCA president
- James Sangma
- MCA secretary
- Rayonald Kharkamni
4 sources
Infighting in Meghalaya unit sees entire team replaced for Ranji Trophy tie
Drama In Ranji Trophy: Entire Team Sacked Overnight, Manager Threatened, Police Called
Infighting sees Meghalaya’s team suspended on match eve, new team takes field
Explained: Why an unbeaten Ranji side were forced to make 11 changes from the last game
What people are saying
Three matches, one outright win. What else do you expect from a team?
There are two factions fighting; one is from the president's side, the other is from the secretary's side.
It is the selection committee that will make the decision on the players, I won’t get involved in that.
the players are feeling utterly dejected but we didn’t want to create a scene ... they call us illegal but this is a failure of the administration, not the fault of the boys.