Guwahati, June 27: Assam will have strong opponents Services and Vidarbha for company in Plate Group A of the Ranji Trophy cricket tournament in the forthcoming season.

Other states in the group are Kerala, Gujarat and Tripura. Assam will begin their campaign from November 4 to 7. The BCCI has, however, yet to release the fixtures. The semifinals have been scheduled from December 15 to 19 and the final from December 26 to 30.

Assam finished as semifinalists in the last edition and failed to make it to the Elite Group owing to alleged pitch-tampering by hosts Orissa at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.

The limited overs Ranji Trophy tournament will be played from April 2 to 12, 2008. The Deodhar Trophy inter-zonal limited overs tournament has been scheduled from March 14 to 26, 2008.

The format of C.K. Nayudu Trophy (under-22) matches will be changed from the next season. The matches, earlier played for three days, will be extended by another day. Zonal meets will begin from October 1 and continue till November 11.

The four-day format will be introduced in the Cooch Behar Trophy (under-19) matches, too. Assam have been pitted in Elite Group B along with Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Saurastra and Hyderabad. The matches will be played in central zone venues. Assam will play its first match from November 20 to 23. The team finished runners-up in last year’s edition, losing to Vidarbha in the final at Baroda.

The Vinoo Mankad Trophy (under-19) limited-overs zonal meets will be held from October 20 to 30.

In the Vijay Merchant Trophy (under-17) tournament, Assam, who were relegated to the Plate Group last year, will be in Plate Group A along with Kerala, Haryana, Vidarbha and Tripura. Assam’s first match has been slated for December 5 to 7 and all matches of the group will be played in West Zone venues. The final is scheduled for January 11 to 14.

Matches of the Polly Umrigar Trophy (under-15) tournament have been extended to three-day affairs from the earlier two-day version. Zonal tournaments will be played from December 1.