BCCI Secretary Jay Shah fired a warning to centrally contracted cricketers over missing domestic red-ball cricket. His remarks come in the backdrop of Ishan Kishan missing Ranji Trophy 2024 despite several warnings from the team management.
Jay Shah fires warning over domestic cricket
Speaking in Rajkot ahead of IND vs ENG 3rd Test, Shah says that the players had already been informed on phone about playing red-ball cricket when asked by selectors, captain and coaches. He adds that letters would also be circulated regarding the same soon.
He fires a warning to centrally contracted players who are missing domestic cricket, cautioning them that no tantrums would be tolerated unless the NCA advises so otherwise.
“They 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,” Shah said as quoted by PTI.
“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,” Shah said.
“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,” he adds.
Shah further defends Virat Kohli’s absence from the ongoing IND vs ENG Test series.
“If somebody is asking for a personal leave in 15 years then it is his right to ask for it. Virat is not that kind of a player that he would ask for a leave without any reason. We must back and trust our players,” he adds.
