BCCI secretary Jay Shah gave a firm warning to all centrally contracted India players that participation in domestic red-ball cricket will be mandatory going forward.

At an event in Rajkot ahead of the third Test between India and England, BCCI secretary Jay Shah spoke on the issue of international players skipping domestic fixtures.

“They have been informed on phone already and I’m going to write letters as well that if your chairman of selectors, your coach and your captain are asking for it then you will have to play red-ball cricket,” said Shah.

As India have been hit by injuries and unavailability of several players during the ongoing series against England, there have been reports of players not wanting to go back to the grind of the Ranji Trophy even when they have no other playing commitments.

Shah mentioned that BCCI will expect all centrally contracted players, especially youngsters to play domestic cricket in accordance to the National Cricket Academy’s guidelines.

“Whatever advice we get from the NCA, say suppose somebody’s body is not able to handle both white-ball and red-ball cricket, so we do not want to impose anything in that regard,” said Shah. “Whoever is fit and young, we are not going to tolerate any other tantrums. This message is for all centrally contracted players.

“Everyone will have to play, otherwise, the chairman of the selection committee has given me his suggestions and I am going to give him a free hand to let him take his own calls freely.”

Ishan Kishan’s unavailability for the last couple of months has been an ongoing saga which is believed to have played a part in BCCI’s new stance.

Kishan had asked for a break citing ‘mental fatigue’ before the South Africa tour in December last year and has not made himself available for selection yet. In between, he was seen vacationing and training with the Pandya brothers in a personal capacity, presumably to prepare for the upcoming IPL season.

Shah, however, refrained from naming him directly: “He is a youngster … There is no need to mention his name. This directive applies to all players, including those under contract. Going forward, all players will have no choice but to participate in domestic cricket.”

The BCCI secretary also backed Virat Kohli’s leave request for the England series: “There is no issue with Virat. In a 15-year cricketing career, if one asks for leave for one series that is his right. Virat is not a player who will take leave without a genuine reason. We need to back and trust our players.”

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