Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) president Jayesh George has lashed out at Sanju Samson after the wicketkeeper-batter’s Vijay Hazare Trophy miss was believed to be the main reason behind his snub from India’s Champions Trophy squad.

Samson was part of Kerala’s squad in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (domestic 20-over tournament) but opted out of the preparatory camp for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which resulted in his exclusion from the domestic 50-over tournament.

“Sanju had sent an email stating that he would not be available for the camp. The team had a short camp in Wayanad without him. Naturally, we only considered those who were part of the sessions for selection. There has been no further discussion with him on the matter,” KCA secretary Vinod S Kumar told The Indian Express on December 18.

However, the state association has come under the scanner after multiple players such as Abdul Bazith and guest star Aditya Sarvate were included in the squad despite not being part of the camp in Wayanad.

After Kerala’s first group-stage match against Baroda on December 23, Samson informed the KCA of his availability for the remainder of the campaign but he was not considered for selection.

“Sanju has updated us that he is available for selection over the last two days. We are yet to take a call on his inclusion. There is a full contingent already there in Hyderabad and only two games have been played,” Kumar told The Indian Express on December 26.

Speaking to MediaOne, George addressed the issue whether Samson’s Vijay Hazare Trophy no-show was a potential reason for his omission.

“I am not sure if Samson missing the tournament was the reason he was excluded. The reason he was not added in the Vijay Hazare squad was because he sent a one-line text saying he would not be available for the 30-member preparatory camp. We were all of the impression that he would be leading the team since he is our white-ball captain and had led in the SMAT season as well.

“So we went ahead and announced the squad and later he sent a message stating he is available for selection. Be it Sanju Samson or any other player, KCA has a policy in place that needs to be respected. We all know that Sanju does not need a camp to come into the squad, but is the Kerala team one that he can come and represent only when he feels like? How did Samson reach the Indian team, it was only through the KCA. That doesn’t mean you turn up only when you feel like for the Kerala team.”

George also revealed that he was contacted by BCCI COO Hemang Amin on Saturday morning regarding Samson’s absence in the List A tournament. “Heman Amin asked me if there was discplinary action taken against Samson that held him back from playing in the Vijay Hazare games. I replied in the negative and he wouldn’t have been up for Champions Trophy consideration had I suggested otherwise.”

In the absence of Samson, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant have been named as the wicketkeepers in India’s Champions Trophy squad.

India squad for Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja