The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has paid heed to Shardul Thakur in no time. After the India pacer urged the BCCI to review hectic domestic scheduling to avoid injuries, the Indian board has formed a four-member committee at the Apex Council Meeting on Monday. India head coach Rahul Dravid, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, NCA chief VVS Laxman and BCCI General Manager Abey Kuruvilla are in the committee.
The three big decision makers of Indian cricket will review the domestic scheduling and suggest a suitable solutions as per a Hindustan Times report.
Domestic Dilemma
Shardul Thakur became a prominent name to raise concerns regarding domestic scheduling. With just three days of gap between two Ranji Trophy matches, he said, it is one of the reasons of injuries.
“The knockouts had five days in between. Now we have seen that all matches are played with three days’ gap. So, it is extremely tough for the domestic players. To expect them to play 10 games in a row with just three days’ gap if the team reaches the final. I think next year they will have to have a relook at it and give more breaks. The schedule is becoming tighter and tighter. If the boys keep playing like this for two more seasons there will be a lot of injuries across the country,” Shardul Thakur had said.
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And while Shardul urged BCCI to take a look at the scheduling, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer made headlines by ignoring Ranji Trophy matches. BCCI came down hard on the duo, axing them from Central Contract. BCCI issued a diktat, asking all centrally contracted players to play domestic matches if they are not in India Cricket Team. However, with the committee in place, BCCI seems to admitting to the hecting fixtures.
Not just short turnout time between two matches in Ranji Trophy, adverse weather conditions in North and Northeastern India also hampered matches.
In Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh vs Madhya Pradesh match was curtailed because snow covered the HPCA Stadium. In Delhi and UP, fog became a major concern.
“No decision has been taken yet but the Ranji Trophy, like earlier years could start from mid or end of October after the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which serves as an IPL auction platform. Some states are losing crucial points in do-or-die games because of inclement weather from mid-December to mid-February,” a senior BCCI source told PTI.
Rahul Dravid backed Shardul Thakur
Dravid, who will be in the committee, also backed Shardul Thakur. The former India captaina and current coach agreed that the BCCI must listen to the players.
“I saw some of the comments Shardul made. And in fact, some of the boys who’ve come into the team as well, also comment about how tough the domestic schedule is. You need to hear your players, because they are the ones going through the grind and putting their bodies on the line. And if there are enough voices saying that, then yeah, I think there’s some need to look at it,” Rahul Dravid said after IND vs ENG Test series win.
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