Chandigarh, Sept. 28 -- It's that time of the year when the tricity is abuzz with action preparing players in the run-up to the domestic season of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Running into its 30th edition, the ongoing 50-over All-India JP Atray Memorial Cricket Tournament, once known for bringing top-notch cricketers to the matches in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali, is featuring 12 teams this year, its lowest number of participants.

Faced with challenges in recent years due to fewer sponsors and more cricket tournaments, including T20 leagues, being organised by state associations, fewer teams are turning up and the ones which are coming are mostly a mix of Under-19 and Under-23 teams. This time, the Punjab Cricke...