County Stint is Virat's individual decision, says COA chief Vinod Rai

BCCI doesn't want the repeat of mistake in preparation made for tour of South Africa.

pic credit AFP

Vinod Rai, the Chief of Committee of Administrators(COA), has come out and stated that it is upto Virat Kohli, the Indian Test Captain, to decide whether he wants to play the Test match against Afghanistan in June or go to England for a county stint to prepare for the marquee test series there in August. 

Vinod Rai was quoted saying to ANI that, "CoA has taken a conscious decision to encourage the players, especially test specialists, to play county and hone their skills for the England series. No question of stopping them to play versus Afghanistan. The team that played in Sri Lanka will play versus Afghanistan"

"Afghanistan is playing versus India and not Virat Kohli. No player (Cheteshwar Pujara especially) will be called back from the UK to play versus Afghanistan. Priority is England and to do well there, so, whatever it takes." 

He made it clear BCCI, "Will not repeat the same mistake that happened versus South Africa. The working committee of the BCCI is us, so doesn't matter what they say or think," 

India-Afghanistan Test match will be played in Bengaluru starting from June 16 in the middle of Kohli's county commitments with Surrey. India is scheduled to play three T20Is, three ODIs, and five Tests in England starting from July to September. 

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 03 May, 2018

    Share Via