Ranji Trophy shocker: Players arrive for match only to find dressing room locked

A team that had spent days preparing for a Ranji Trophy fixture was left outside its own dressing room on match morning.

In a dramatic turn of events, Meghalaya's entire senior cricket squad was replaced just hours before its Plate Group encounter against Nagaland, exposing a deepening power struggle within the state's cricket administration.

The episode unfolded amid an ongoing dispute between two factions of the Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA).

The MCA Apex Council selected the squad that represented the state in its first three matches, but it was locked in a tussle with board president James Sangma over the suspension of secretary Rayonald Kharkamni.

Kharkamni's suspension was linked to allegations of a cover-up involving sexual harassment complaints.

The dispute took a significant turn when the High Court ruled in Sangma's favour ahead of the Nagaland fixture, upheld the secretary's suspension and declared resolutions passed under Kharkamni illegal.

Following the court order, Sangma's faction selected an entirely new squad to represent Meghalaya.

However, the developments left the original group of players in uncertainty. According to a report by The Indian Express, the Apex Council-selected squad had already completed its practice sessions and attended the pre-match meeting with referee Arindam Sarkar.

The players were reportedly assured that they would be permitted to play after the BCCI accepted their team. That assurance did not last long.

Later that evening, the players received a phone call saying they would no longer play, citing the High Court order as the reason the squad was considered invalid.

The situation reportedly became more tense when the team manager received threats and subsequently left.

The captain approached match referee Sarkar, raising concerns about threats against the players. The referee eventually shifted to another hotel.

By around 11 pm, the players were informed that the BCCI had approved a replacement squad. Yet, the original players turned up at the ground the following morning, apparently hoping the situation would be resolved.

Instead, they found the dressing room locked. Police personnel were called to the venue, and Sangma later apologised before the dressing room was finally opened.

The upheaval wasn't limited to the senior team. Meghalaya's Under-23 side, which was in Sikkim, was also recalled and replaced with another squad.

Meanwhile, the administrative turmoil has affected the senior team's position in the Ranji Trophy Plate Group. Meghalaya currently occupies second place with 12 points, having registered one victory and suffered one defeat.

The MCA Apex Council is preparing to challenge the High Court's order before the Supreme Court, setting the stage for another legal battle over cricket administration in the state.