THE BCCI HAS MANDATED THAT PLAYERS MUST PARTICIPATE IN THE UPCOMING ROUND OF RANJI TROPHY MATCHES
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken firm action against players who have been idling away their time, anticipating the commencement of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
In an effort to enforce discipline among players, the BCCI, in collaboration with national selectors, has mandated their participation in state teams.
The directive, communicated to players via email on Monday, applies to those who are not currently part of the national squad or undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
Effective immediately, players must join their respective state teams for the upcoming round of Ranji Trophy matches starting on February 16.
This communication particularly affects players like Ishan Kishan, who have opted out of competitive cricket in favor of IPL preparations, as recently reported by Cricpulse.
For instance, Ishan, training in Baroda, is scheduled to represent his home state Jharkhand against Rajasthan in Jamshedpur.
However, this ruling is not solely directed at Ishan.
It also includes other players such as Krunal Pandya and Deepak Chahar, who have been inactive in Ranji Trophy matches, and even individuals like Shreyas Iyer, who have been excluded from the national team due to poor form.
According to a BCCI official familiar with the decision, “Players cannot simply prioritize international cricket or the IPL.
They must make themselves available for domestic cricket and fulfill their commitments to their respective state teams.”
Ishan’s prolonged absence from competitive cricket has sparked concerns within Indian cricket circles.
His decision to refrain from playing for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy after being released from the Indian squad during the South Africa series has attracted criticism.
Despite the backlash, Ishan has remained steadfast in his decision to focus on IPL preparations.
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