Credit: X
The Board for Control of Cricket in India is set to mandate players to participate in a certain number of Ranji Trophy games, to be eligible for the Indian Premier League. The discussions regarding such actions have surfaced after the controversy around wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who didn't show up for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy despite returning to training, alongside Hardik Pandya in Baroda, after taking a break for mental fatigue.
Reports claim that Kishan has been assertively asked by the BCCI to suit up for Jharkhand for their last league-stage game against Rajasthan in Jamshedpur, starting February 16. Despite the Ishan Kishan situation, there has been a consensus among the board about implementing a stricter policy to break players' habit of only playing in the IPL.
Aware that some players don't want to play any red-ball cricket: BCCI official
A senior BCCI official, while speaking to PTI, revealed that the top brass at Indian cricket's governing body are planning to make a rule about playing " 3-4 Ranji Trophy games" to be eligible for the IPL and the auction. "The decision-makers in BCCI are well aware that some players don't want to play any red ball cricket. If they are out of Indian team, they would at best play a few Mushtaq Ali T20 games and then not report for state team duty during red ball season," the BCCI official said, as per PTI.
"To rein in such players, board in all likelihood will make it mandatory to play 3-4 Ranji Trophy games, failing which, they can't play IPL or even appear in IPL auction if released by their franchise. The state units feel unless the diktat comes from top of BCCI, s ome of the young stars will treat Ranji Trophy with disdain. "
There needs to be a stop: BCCI official on players skipping Ranji Trophy
The PTI report further quoted the official stating that Indian team management has been unhappy with certain players, who are always reluctant to play Ranji Trophy even when they are fit. Regarding this issue, the official said, "We can understand Hardik Pandya's case as his body can't take the rigours of red ball cricket. He can't withstand the workload of Test cricket and India needs him fit for ICC events. But some of the other youngsters, whenever you call them, they will cite that they are currently doing physio work. There needs to be a stop somewhere."
(Read Latest Cricket News and Breaking News of Cricket at SportsTiger. Also browse Domestic Cricket Live Score and Today Cricket Match)
