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Exclusion of Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan and middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer from national duties have been the talking point for long now. However, this has been followed with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) dropping the duo from annual central contract list.
While Ishan was last part of the Indian side that toured South Africa, but the wicketkeeper-batter withdrew citing personal reasons. Shreyas Iyer, on the other hand, last featured in the first two Tests against England and pulled out of the side after he complained of groin and back issue. However, Iyer was declared fit by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, he continued to miss the Ranji Trophy game for his state team Mumbai.
But several reports have claimed that Iyer instead opted to attend Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) camp during this time. Moreover, latest reports reveal that this gesture of Iyer opting his IPL duties over national duties left BCCI Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar furious. According to a report by RevSportz, Agarkar was “furious” when he came to know about this development.
Can Shreyas Iyer get the BCCI central contract?
However, with such reports doing rounds, Iyer and Agarkar directly haven’t opened up on the same. But it is to be understood that it is the BCCI selectors who recommend the final contract list. Speaking of the contract list, Iyer was “not considered” for the annual contract, but the BCCI has left a condition for his inclusion.
“Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were not considered for the annual contracts in this round of recommendations,” the BCCI said in its release while announcing the Annual Player Contracts for Team India. “The BCCI has recommended that all athletes give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team,” it further added.
The out of favour batter has however been reminded to prove his skillset as he has joined Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy semifinal in Mumbai against Tamil Nadu.
