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In a big update with regards to the Indian domestic cricket circuit, it is being learned that veteran Tamil Nadu cricketer Murali Vijay had actually pulled out of the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy. The right-handed batter was hesitant to take the Coronavirus vaccine. Meanwhile, he was also apprehensive about life in a bio-bubble and has taken the decision to not compete in the tournament.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had earlier released the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and the state associations were asked to implement the same. It is as per this regulation that a player has been mandated to remain in a strict bio-bubble before the tournament. Moreover, the player is required to continue staying in the bubble as long as he is part of the team in the tournament.
Tamil Nadu selectors haven’t considered Vijay for selection
Since Vijay was not keen on following the SOPs mandated for players, he was not considered for selection by Tamil Nadu for the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament.
"It is his personal decision. He is hesitant to take the vaccine. The BCCI SOPs say that a player needs to be inside the bubble for a week before a tournament starts and then as long as he is with the team. But Vijay is not too keen on it. So the Tamil Nadu selectors haven’t considered him for selection,” a source close to the development was quoted as saying in a TOI Report.
"The selectors have not even discussed about him in the selection meeting and he didn’t even make it to the Tamil Nadu list of probables picked before the domestic season. So even if he is ready to take the vaccine and wants to make a comeback, it will be a long road for him because he won’t be picked immediately. He has to prove his fitness and needs to have a few matches under his belt to be selected for Tamil Nadu again," the source added.
Vijay's last competitive cricket match was in IPL 2020
Vijay's last competitive cricket match was for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2020. Notably, the 2020 IPL in the UAE was the first BCCI-conducted tournament that was played under bio-bubble rules in which he had played but after that he has made himself unavailable for selection.
His last match for Tamil Nadu was in 2019 when he played a Ranji Trophy game against Karnataka.