The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to make a minimum number of Ranji Trophy games mandatory for players to be eligible to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The move would be made after the reluctance shown by Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan towards first-class cricket and focus only on the IPL.
Kishan didn’t show up in any of Jharkhand’s 6 matches in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season. The way in which he skipped the tournament since returning from the South Africa tour citing ‘travel fatigue’ hasn’t gone down well among the board officials.
As reported by the Press Trust of India (PTI), the BCCI brass has already instructed Kishan to play Jharkhand’s last group league game against Rajasthan in Jamshedpur, starting February 16. He has reportedly been training in Baroda with his new MI skipper Hardik Pandya while his state team is languishing in the bottom half of the Group A points table.
The report further stated that the BCCI is now looking to implement a strict policy so that the players don’t make ‘playing IPL to IPL’ a habit.
“The decision-makers in BCCI are well aware that some players don’t want to play any red ball cricket. If they are out of the Indian team, they would at best play a few Mushtaq Ali T20 games and then not report for state team duty during red ball season,” a senior BCCI was quoted as saying by the board.
“To rein in such players, the board in all likelihood will make it mandatory to play 3-4 Ranji Trophy games, failing which, they can’t play IPL or even appear in IPL auction if released by their franchise. The state units feel unless the diktat comes from the top of BCCI, some of the young stars will treat Ranji Trophy with disdain,” the official added.
The PTI report further stated that even the Indian team’s think-tank is pissed off with a certain section of players, who are always reluctant to play the Ranji Trophy even when they are fit.
“We can understand Hardik Pandya’s case as his body can’t take the rigours of red ball cricket. He can’t withstand the workload of Test cricket and India needs him fit for ICC events. But some of the other youngsters, whenever you call them, will cite that they are currently doing physio work. There needs to be a stop somewhere,” the official said.
(With PTI Inputs)
Comments
0 comment