BCCI secretary Jay Shah has come up with a strict verdict amid reports doing rounds that of country's cricket board is in a bid to come up with a strict policy to mandate a minimum requirement of Ranji Trophy matches for centrally contracted Indian players to qualify for the IPL auction pool.
Jay Shah's strict words for players skipping domestic cricket
On February 14 during a function to name the Saurashtra Cricket Association stadium after Niranjan Shah ahead of India versus England's third Test in Rajkot, Jay Shah clearly stated that all contracted players will have to play domestic cricket no matter what.
“All contracted players have been told on phone and I'll be writing to them too. If chairman of selectors, coach & captain want you to play red-ball cricket then you gotta play. ‘Nakhare Nahi Chalenge’ (no tantrums). And as far as Ishan Kishan is concerned, he is young, I am not saying this specifically about him as it will be applicable for all the players uniformly,” Jay Shah told reporters.
"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.
Will Ishan Kishan show up for Ranji Trophy match?
Jay Shah's statement came in the backdrop of Ishan Kishan's decision to skip Ranji Trophy matches.
As per reports, BCCI instructed Ishan Kishan to participate in Jharkhand's final league game of the current Ranji Trophy season. The match is slated to commence on February 16 at the Keenan Stadium in Jamshedpur. Kishan, however, hasn't responded to anything and reportedly has been training with Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya in Baroda. There are a lot of controversies surrounding him as well, with many lashing out at him for not playing in the Ranji Trophy despite being asked by the Indian management.
Ishan hasn't represented India since November of last year and reportedly took a break during the South Africa tour due to mental fatigue.
It will be interesting to see whether Kishan turn out for Jharkhand in upcoming Ranji Trophy fixture or directly make his comeback through the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
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