BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Friday (February 16) issued another warning to India’s top cricketers - centrally contracted as well as India ‘A’, over their mandatory participation in domestic red-ball tournaments.
According to a report published in The Indian Express, Shah wrote to the cricketers, citing that domestic cricket remains a “critical yardstick for selection” to the national team and non-participation in it will have “severe implications”.
The concerning trend of players prioritizing the IPL over domestic red-ball cricket isn’t well-received by the board, leading to this hard communication.
“There is a recent trend that has started to emerge and is a cause for concern. Some players have begun prioritising the IPL over domestic cricket, a shift that was not anticipated. Domestic cricket has always been the foundation upon which Indian cricket stands, and it has never been undervalued in our vision for the sport,” Shah said in the letter, as quoted by The Indian Express.
He further said that “domestic cricket forms the backbone of Indian cricket and serves as the feeder line to Team India”.
“Our vision for Indian cricket has been clear from the outset – every cricketer aspiring to play for India must prove themselves in domestic cricket. Performance in domestic cricket remains a critical yardstick for selection and non-participation in domestic cricket will carry severe implications,” wrote the BCCI secretary.
Jay Shah also mentioned that while the board is proud of the IPL’s success, players must prioritise domestic red-ball cricket and recognise its relevance as a stepping stone to represent India.
The letter comes after players such as Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer and Deepak Chahar skipped the final round of Ranji Trophy matches despite the warning coming from Jay Shah earlier this week.
In his letter, Shah also reminded the modern-day cricketers about how players in the past embraced every opportunity to represent their states in domestic tournaments.
“Legends like Sunil Gavaskar exemplified this dedication, playing club cricket the morning they arrived from an international tour. Domestic cricket was seen not just as a commitment but as a responsibility and a source of pride,” he wrote.
Earlier this week, the BCCI secretary had said India's centrally contracted players will have to mandatorily play domestic red-ball tournaments and the board will not tolerate any excuses for the same.
"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 told the media on the sidelines of the renaming of the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
Jay Shah, however, said that the players’ participation in domestic red-ball tournaments will happen in accordance with the guidance from the National Cricket Academy.
“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 clarified.
“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 added.
(The Indian Express inputs)
