The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is exploring the option of making match availability a mandatory criterion for handing central contracts to Indian cricketers, India Today reported on Saturday (September 12).

According to a top BCCI source, the board is discussing whether players must meet a specific minimum match-availability threshold during the season to stay eligible for annual central contracts.

A dedicated formula is currently being discussed to decide the exact number or percentage of matches required for a player to qualify.

The move comes amid growing concerns over player availability, following multiple instances of key players missing matches due to injuries in recent months.

The BCCI aims to ensure that centrally contracted players remain fit and available for selection as much as possible. If implemented, a player's availability will be factored in alongside their performance when their annual contract is assessed.

"The discussion is on regarding the idea. For the next central contract, players' availability for the whole season could be monitored. The complete formula will be worked out, including how many matches a player must be available to be offered a central contract," the publication quoted the BCCI source as saying.

"As of now, nothing has been formalised. Going forward, it will be assessed whether this idea is applicable or not," the source added.

The proposed system could severely impact players who are frequently sidelined by injuries, although the BCCI has not yet determined how availability will be calculated, whether exemptions for specific circumstances will exist, or what constitutes an acceptable availability threshold.

The board is still working through the details, and a final decision will only be made after the system's feasibility has been evaluated.

(With India Today Inputs)