Phew! That was some day, especially for Indian cricket fans, who got to know many things from BCCI chief secretary Jay Shah. The board’s youngest-ever secretary spoke on various burning discussions in his latest interview and spoke about regarding the exclusions of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the Duleep Trophy squads, and the IPL’s Impact player rule. Shah also touched upon the ICC Champions Trophy! Apart from this, we even witnessed an action-packed Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) auction. It was Day 1 and the second day is on Friday (August 16).
Jay Shah on India travelling for Champions Trophy!
The upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan has sparked debate over India’s participation. The Men in Blue haven’t toured Pakistan in 16 years. Despite Pakistan’s readiness with stadium renovations and a proposed schedule, the BCCI remains non-committal. The PCB is adamant about hosting the mega tournament at home, while the BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has adopted a wait-and-see approach, giving nothing away.
Why didn’t Rohit-Kohli take part in Duleep Trophy?
Mega stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were initially expected to play in the Duleep Trophy. However, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah clarified that the duo hasn’t participated to manage their workload. He emphasized the risk of injury and pointed out that top players in England and Australia don’t play domestic cricket either. Shah even stressed the importance of respecting the players and not treating them like servants!
Impact Player rule to stay in IPL?
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah acknowledged the impact player rule’s drawbacks, and that it affects in nurturing the all-rounders. However, he defended it, saying it benefits Indian players (as it is only applicable on Indian players). The rule was discussed with IPL owners and is being evaluated in domestic cricket as well. Shah also emphasized considering broadcasters’ interests and promises a decision based on feedback ahead of IPL 2025 auction.
VVS Laxman continues at NCA, no IPL return!
Former Indian batter VVS Laxman will continue as head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for at least another year. His contract extension came despite interest from IPL franchises. Laxman has built on Rahul Dravid’s NCA foundation, focusing on player development and injury management. The new state-of-the-art NCA campus is set to open soon and Laxman is likely to be a key individual in its opening!
PKL 2024 Auction starts!
The PKL 2024 auction kicked off with a bang. Iranian all-rounder Mohammadreza Shadloui fetched a whopping INR 2.07 crore from Haryana Steelers. Surprisingly, PKL’s most successful defender, Fazel Atrachali, was picked up by Bengal Warriors for just INR 50 lakh. India captain Pawan Sehrawat was retained by Telugu Titans for INR 1.725 crore by FBM rule. The biggest surprise was raider Sachin Tanwar, bought by Tamil Thalaivas for a staggering INR 2.15 crore, thus becoming the costliest player this year. Day 1 saw 20 players sold, with four remaining unsold.
No world Cup in India
The Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, originally slated for Bangladesh, is in jeopardy due to civil unrest. India was considered a potential host but BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has declined. With the recent Men’s ODI World Cup and the upcoming Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, Shah believes hosting another World Cup consecutively is excessive. The ICC is now exploring alternative venues for the tournament.
