Former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) coach Tom Moody has prasied the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for allowing former cricketers like MS Dhoni to play as uncapped player. The reintroduction of uncapped rule will allow Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to retain five-time IPL-winning captain Dhoni for Rs 4 crore. While many have said that it is done to suit CSK and Dhoni, former Australian cricketer Moody said that there isn't an issue with the move at all.
“I think it’s a great rule. I think it allows, if you are good enough and you have got longevity, it allows a player to continue to play on the big stage and perform and have some sort of role; without them, I suppose, you are making it difficult, from a price perspective, to retain those players because they might be the identity, or in Dhoni’s case, certainly he is the identity of CSK. So, I don’t think that’s an issue at all. I think the longer the likes of iconic players like Dhoni can play in the IPL and can physically deliver like he has been, it’s good for the tournament,” Moody told ESPNCricinfo.
One change to rule which Moody feels will help more former cricketers
However, Moody has suggested one more change to the rule which will allow more former cricketers to be retained as uncapped players in the future. He was the time period of five times since last international game to be reduced to three years.
“I personally think five years is a long time; I would like to see it as a three-year window. Once a player has played his last international game, I think if you are out of international cricket or you haven’t been considered to play for India over that three-year window, you should be given the right of passage to be able to come in at that four-crow level,” he added.
No official word from Dhoni so far
The 43-year-old Dhoni is yet to confirm his availability for IPL 2025. As per a report by Cricbuzz, the wicketkeeper-batter will meet the CSK officials mid-October in Mumbai. The deadline to announce the list of retained players is October 31.
