March 13: In a significant move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to introduce a new policy that will change how state cricket associations interact with foreign cricket boards. This decision is expected to be finalized during the BCCI's Apex Council meeting on March 18. The policy mandates that state associations must route all proposals for training camps and competitions with foreign boards through the BCCI. This comes in response to several state units, including those from Delhi and Puducherry, initiating discussions with mainly associate nation boards for hosting exposure trips.   It was revealed that the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association has entertained a proposal from the Nepal board. A BCCI source stated, "State units can surely partner foreign boards for cricket related activities but those agreements have to be facilitated by the BCCI as it is the parent body. All proposals must go through BCCI." The BCCI's upcoming Apex Council meeting will also cover discussions on collaborations between state cricket associations and foreign boards for organising cricket. This move aims to streamline the process and ensure that all international engagements are under the BCCI's purview. Nepal's cricket team is expected to visit India for an exposure trip ahead of the T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean in June. This follows a meeting between Cricket Association of Nepal officials and BCCI secretary Jay Shah last month. The BCCI has a history of supporting associate nations, with Afghanistan using India as its training and competition base in the pre-COVID era. In related news, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Japan Cricket Association (JCA). This agreement aims to aid the development of cricket in Japan through collaborations, exchanges, and the sharing of expertise. Under this MOU, SLC will send players, teams, coaches, and curators to Japan, highlighting the growing trend of cricketing partnerships across borders. This move by the BCCI to centralize the approval process for international collaborations reflects a broader effort to maintain oversight and consistency in the development and exposure of cricket across India and abroad. Shashank Gupta Mykhel source: mykhel.com