The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been very vocal about players' workload management, especially the fast bowlers. And recently the board’s strict guidelines led to pacer Umesh Yadav declining an opportunity to play county cricket.

Addressing the media on the eve of the Ranji Trophy clash between Delhi and Vidarbha, Umesh confirmed that he received an offer from Gloucestershire but the deal wasn’t possible due to workload guidelines.

"I got a county offer last season (from Gloucestershire). They wanted me to play seven games, but the BCCI workload management policy doesn't allow me to play more than two or three games. So, the deal didn't work out. Also I had some niggles to take care of after IPL," he revealed.

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Asked if the workload policy needs a bit of tweak, Umesh said it should be a case of each individual being treated as per their position and match time.

"Workload management is a balance that you strike when you are constantly playing matches. In my case, it's been the opposite. I have played lesser and lesser in the past two years (2018 and 2019). So there hasn't even been optimum workload for me.

"I am 31 and the next four to five years are very important. If you look at my record, I played four Tests last year (2019) and before that another four in 2018. In white ball, I played only one game last year.

"At this age, the more I bowl, the better I will get. That's why I am playing five first-class (one vs Saurashtra after this game) to have some more workload," he explained.

Considering the fact that Umesh is not part of India’s white-ball set-up anymore, he doesn't have much to do after the New Zealand tour.

"So, in a World T20 year, after New Zealand tour, I have only IPL left and then no cricket. If I am not selected for white-ball cricket, I have precious little to do then," he pointed.

Does that suggest he will be open to county offers?

"The concern about county cricket is that if they have a professional playing for them, they would hand over the ball to him and expect that bowler to send down maximum overs," Umesh said.

(With IANS inputs)