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The former Indian fast bowler, Praveen Kumar has lamented “different rules” from the BCCI for Hardik Pandya, who wasn’t omitted from the central contracts unlike his teammates Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan. The 37-year-old supported the BCCI’s latest decision mandating the contracted players to play domestic cricket when they aren’t representing India.
Notably Hardik Pandya was retained by the BCCI on their annual central contracts list despite not playing any cricket for nearly four months after injuring his ankle during the ODI World Cup. But, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, who were a regular feature in the Indian cricket team leading up to the BCCI’s central contracts announcement, didn’t get considered in the current round of recommendations after they didn’t play for their state teams in Ranji Trophy.
While speaking on a show from Shubhankar Mishra on YouTube, Praveen Kumar was quoted as saying, as per Times of India, “Hardik Pandya chaand se thodi utar ke aaya hai? Khelna padega isko bhi. Kyun iske liye alag niyam hai? Isko bhi board ko dhamkana chahiye (Hardik Pandya hasn't come from the moon? He too has to play. Why there are different rules for him? The BCCI should reprimand him as well)”.
Praveen Kumar questions Hardik Pandya’s A-Grade contract
Praveen Kumar questioned the context regarding Hardik Pandya’s retention in the A grade contract list from the BCCI and said, “Play all three formats. Or have you played 60-70 Test matches that you will just play T20?” He elaborated, "The country needs you. If you don't want to play Test cricket, give it in writing.”
“Maybe (Hardik) Pandya has been informed that he would not be considered for Tests,” the 37-year-old added.
Moreover, Hardik Pandya is set to captain Mumbai Indians on his return from injury in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has replaced the five-time IPL-winning captain Rohit Sharma in the captaincy role before the IPL 2024.
