The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly unhappy with the non-selection of centrally contracted players like KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj in the Duleep Trophy, and has communicated its concerns to state associations. The Duleep Trophy is a domestic cricket tournament in India.
Specifically, the BCCI's displeasure stems from the South Zone's decision to exclude Rahul, Siraj, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna, and Sai Sudharsan from their squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy, which is scheduled to begin on August 28 in Bengaluru. These players are all part of India's Test team and are currently on a month-long break.
In response to these omissions, the BCCI has sent an email to all state associations, emphasizing the importance of selecting currently available India players for their respective zonal teams in order to uphold the prestige and quality of the competition. The email, written by BCCI general manager of cricket operations Abey Kuruvilla, urged Zonal Convenors to ensure that all available India players are picked for the Duleep Trophy.
The BCCI's directive aligns with its policy of mandating participation of international players in domestic competitions. Last year, the board made it mandatory for centrally contracted players to feature in domestic tournaments when available. The board has previously cautioned players against prioritizing the IPL over first-class cricket.
The email also reminded state associations that players who make themselves available for selection into Team India are expected to participate in domestic matches conducted by the BCCI. If a player chooses not to participate in domestic cricket despite being available, they may not be considered for selection unless they obtain prior recommendation from the national coach and the chairman of the selection committee, as well as prior approval from the BCCI. Any leave granted will be based on valid and justifiable reasons.
The BCCI's stance underscores its commitment to maintaining the significance of domestic tournaments and ensuring that India's top cricketers contribute to the domestic cricket structure when they are not on international duty.
