Irfan Pathan, the former Indian fast bowler, has raised concerns over the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to withhold central contracts from Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer due to their absence from Ranji Trophy matches, contrasting it with the treatment of players like Hardik Pandya.
Expressing his dissent on social media platform X, Pathan questioned the inconsistency in evaluating players, particularly highlighting the case of Hardik Pandya, who has been included in Grade A despite his limited participation in red-ball cricket.
“If players like Hardik don’t want to play red ball cricket, should he and others like him participate in white-ball domestic cricket when they aren’t on national duty?” he questioned BCCI’s decision, in his post on X.
He emphasized the need for uniform standards, asserting that without parity in treatment, Indian cricket's progress could be hindered.
“If this doesn’t apply to all, then Indian cricket won’t achieve the desired results!” he added.
Ishan Kishan, aged 25, chose not to represent Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy after returning from the South Africa tour in December, citing personal reasons. Instead, he focused on preparing for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), currently competing in the DY Patil T20 Tournament in Mumbai before joining the Mumbai Indians.
Similarly, Shreyas Iyer, after being dropped from the Indian team due to a groin injury following the England Test series, did not participate in Mumbai's Ranji quarterfinal against Baroda. However, he has been named in the squad for the Ranji semifinals and is slated to lead the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.
Pathan expressed confidence in the abilities of both players, stating, "They are talented cricketers, both Shreyas and Ishan. Hoping they bounce back and come back stronger."
The exclusion of Iyer and Kishan from central contracts is interpreted as a stern message to young cricketers prioritizing white-ball cricket and IPL contracts over first-class cricket.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri also lent support to the duo, encouraging them to persevere and make strong comebacks. Shastri's message of resilience echoed the sentiments of many in the cricketing fraternity, emphasizing the significance of determination and overcoming challenges in the sport.
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