The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah issued a stern warning to players skipping Ranji Trophy and said every fit centrally contracted and targeted player will have to play the domestic red-ball competition. The Indian cricket board has already taken note of numerous players conveniently skipping the longest format.
“They (players) have been informed on phone already and I’m going to write letters as well that if your chairman of selectors, your coach and your captain are asking for it then you will have to play red-ball cricket,” said Jay Shah on sidelines of the event where Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Stadium was renamed as Niranjan Shah Stadium.
Shah, however, didn’t single out Ishan Kishan, who is yet to feature in Ranji Trophy since he requested for a break in South Africa, and asserted that the directive applies to all the players who are fit and available.
“He is a youngster… there is no need to mention his name. It applies to everyone. Everyone under the contract and the ones being targeted too. All players will have no choice but to play domestic cricket,” added Shah.
The BCCI will not impose anything and will go by the advice they receive from the National Cricket Academy (NCA), especially for players who are not able to manage both white-ball and red-ball competitions.
“Whatever advice we get from the NCA — say suppose somebody’s body is not able to handle both white-ball and red-ball cricket — so we do not want to impose anything in that regard. (It applies to) whoever is fit and young — we are not going to tolerate any other tantrums. This message is for all centrally contracted players and targeted players too.
Shah has already received suggestions from chairman of men’s senior selection committee Ajit Agarkar.
“Everyone will have to play, otherwise, the chairman of the selection committee has given me his suggestions and I am going to give him a free hand to let him take his own calls freely,” said Shah.
‘Franchises will have to follow… ‘
After the ongoing England Test series, focus will quickly shift to the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the 2024 T20 World Cup. Shah said workload management, like the previous editions, will be done during the cash-rich league and all IPL franchises have no option but to follow whatever BCCI decides.
“Franchises will have to follow whatever BCCI decide. BCCI is the supreme body. We are above the franchises,” said Shah.
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