Jay Shah, the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on Thursday made it crystal clear that centrally contracted Indian players must actively participate in red-ball cricket within the domestic circuit. There will be no leniency granted for any excuses, Shah emphasized firmly.
Speaking on the sidelines of the renaming ceremony of the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Shah articulated that the chairman of selectors would wield the authority to make decisions independently if a player chooses to defy directives from the team management.
Earlier reports from PTI indicated that the BCCI would enforce a requirement for Indian cricketers to partake in at least three or four Ranji Trophy matches if they wish to feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Shah further said , "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.
Nevertheless, Shah clarified that these directives would align with guidance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore.
"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," he said.
"(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," said Shah providing further clarity.
"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.
Shah also stressed the importance of supporting players when they require time off for personal reasons, citing the case of Virat Kohli opting out of the ongoing Test series against England.
"If somebody is asking for a personal leave in 15 years then it is his right to ask for it. Virat is not that kind of a player that he would ask for a leave without any reason. We must back and trust our players," he said.
However, when asked about Kohli's availability for the upcoming T20 World Cup, Shah declined to provide specific details, stating, "We will talk about Virat later."
Additionally, Shah indicated that updates regarding the fitness of Mohammed Shami, who is on the path to recovery following injuries, would be shared as soon as he is deemed fit. "We'll keep you informed about Shami's recovery progress," he assured.
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