BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has opened up about the leadership in the T20 World Cup 2024 & need for centrally contracted players to play domestic cricket. Jay confirmed that Rohit Sharma will lead team India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 to be played in West Indies & USA.
Speaking at the press conference in Rajkot, Shah said that the board is confident that India will win the T20 World Cup under the leadership of Rohit, ending the mystery over the captaincy in the shortest format of the game. There were speculations about captaincy in the T20I format as fans thought that Hardik Pandya would lead the T20I team in the marquee event after holding the reins of the T20I squad for more than a year. It was only in the Afghanistan T20I series that Rohit came back as Captain of the T20I squad after Hardik sustained an injury in the ODI World Cup 2023.
We will not tolerate tantrums- Jay Shah’s strict message to Ishan Kishan
Further speaking about BCCI’s decision of making red ball domestic cricket mandatory for centrally contracted players. Shah said that the centrally contracted players must play red ball domestic cricket to be considered for selection in the national team. Shah said, “They have been informed on the 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.”
He further said that the decision of which players should play red ball tournaments & which should not be taken after consulting NCA. He also said strictly that the board will not tolerate any kind of tantrums from the young players who are fit & can play red ball cricket. The message was clear for Ishan Kishan who took a break from international cricket midway through an overseas tour and then skipped Ranji Trophy 2024 matches to prep for the next season of Indian Premier League (IPL 2024).
Shah further said that after receiving guidelines & overview of each player’s capability from NCA they will decide on any player’s capability of playing red & white ball cricket. For instance, if any player whose body couldn’t handle both white & red-ball cricket then we will not impose any such implications on them. However, he made it clear that there will be no exceptions for fit and young players, stressing that all centrally contracted players must be ready to play without any excuses. Shah also mentioned that the chairman of the selection committee will have the freedom to make decisions independently if players fail to comply with this expectation.
Jay Shah opened on Virat Kohli’s absence from IND vs ENG Test Series
BCCI Secretary, Jay Shah further opened up on Virat Kohli’s absence in the England Test series. A section of fans has bashed Kohli for skipping the entire Test series which is crucial for the team. But Shah came in his support & said that the Board understands Virat’s decision to spend time with his family.
Shah expressed his support for Virat who requested personal leave, affirming that it is their right to do so, especially after 15 years of dedicated service. He highlighted Virat’s integrity as a player, noting that he wouldn’t take leave without a valid reason. Shah emphasized the importance of backing and trusting players during such situations.
Also read, IND vs ENG: Sarfaraz Khan opens up on Run-Out Mix-Up
