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With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 almost nearing its business end, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary, Jay Shah on Thursday, May 9 confirmed that it wasn’t his decision to drop wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan and middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer from the BCCI Central Contracts list. During his recent address to the media at the BCCI head office, Jay Shah revealed that the decision to remove the two notable players from the contract list was made by Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar.
Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer neglected to appear for domestic tournaments despite BCCI’s mandate and as a result, were thus excluded from the central contracts. However, it is to be noted that Iyer did appear for a few matches in Ranji Trophy, including the semifinal and final, Ishan Kishan withdrew from the South Africa series and was on an extended break until the IPL 2024.
“You can check the constitution. I am just a convener (of selection meeting),” Jay Shah said during the media interaction at the BCCI head office on Thursday, May 9. “That decision lies with Ajit Agarkar, even when these two players (Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer) who did not play domestic (cricket), the decision to drop them (from Central Contracts list) was only his. My role is just to implement. And we have got new players (in place) like Sanju Samson. Nobody is indispensable,” he further added.
Hardik Pandya to play white-ball domestic tournaments: Jay Shah
The BCCI Secretary Jay Shah also spoke about Hardik Pandya, who has agreed to play white-ball tournaments in domestic cricket. However, the Indian all-rounder was upgraded to Grade A in the Central Contracts list despite being fully fit. During in interaction, Shah told reporters that Hardik will have to play white-ball tournaments like Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
“Even Hardik (Pandya) said if BCCI is considering me for white-ball, then I am ready to play Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Any player will have to play, even if they do not want to, they will have to,” Shah said.
