The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken decisive action against players who have been idling away their time, waiting for the Indian Premier League (IPL) to commence. In a bid to instil discipline among players, the BCCI, along with national selectors, has mandated their participation in state teams.
The directive, conveyed to players via email on Monday, is applicable to those not currently part of the national squad or undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Effective immediately, players are required to join their respective state teams for the upcoming round of Ranji Trophy matches commencing on February 16.
This missive, in particular, impacts players such as Ishan Kishan, who have eschewed competitive cricket in favour of IPL preparations, as reported by Cricbuzz recently. For instance, Ishan, training in Baroda, is slated to play for his home state Jharkhand against Rajasthan in Jamshedpur.
However, this ruling isn’t solely directed at Ishan. It extends to other players like Krunal Pandya and Deepak Chahar, who have been inactive in Ranji Trophy matches, and even to individuals like Shreyas Iyer, who have been excluded from the national team because of 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 honour their commitments to their respective state teams.”
Ishan’s prolonged absence from competitive cricket has raised concerns within Indian cricket circles. His decision to opt out of playing for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy after being released from the Indian squad during the South Africa series has drawn criticism. Despite backlash, Ishan has remained steadfast in his choice to focus on IPL preparations.
© Cricbuzz
