'Won't Tolerate Tantrums' - Jay Shah's Strict Warning For Contracted Players After Kishan's Drama
Jay Shah (X.com)
In a stern warning to all the centrally contracted Indian cricketers, BCCI secretary Jay Shah has ordered the contracted players to follow the selection committee and team management’s orders when it comes to domestic cricket participation. No tantrums or defiant attitude will be tolerated henceforth.
Ishan Kishan’s rebellious attitude has not sat well with the BCCI. The wicket-keeper batter has ignored head coach Rahul Dravid’s direct orders to play domestic cricket in order to be available for selection. He continues to practice with the Pandya brothers in Vadodara despite being on a mental wellness break.
The tussle has forced BCCI secretary Jay Shah to take strict measures as Kishan’s fiasco is sending the wrong message to the budding cricketers.
At the recent renaming event of Saurashtra Cricket Stadium, Jay Shah confirmed that he has given full authority to the selection committee to take calls on centrally contracted players who defy their orders.
Shah added that if a player is requested to play domestic cricket by the selection committee, the head coach, or the captain, he has to follow their orders.
"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," Jay Shah told the media.
The only exception will be made if NCA disallows a player to play multiple formats due to workload issues. But otherwise, the BCCI intends to implement a zero-tolerance policy. No tantrums from any player of any nature whatsoever will not be entertained henceforth.
“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. (It applies to) whoever is fit and young — we are not going to tolerate any other tantrums. This message is for all centrally contracted players,” Shah added.
While Jay Shah refrained from naming players, it was understood that the stern warning was directed towards Ishan Kishan. He has to return to domestic cricket or play any cricket of any sort to be considered for national team selection.
“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,” he further added.
Also, Jay Shah intended to send a message to anyone who wishes to follow Ishan Kishan's footsteps. Moreover, as and when the fiasco unfolds, more stricter rules and regulations are expected to be implemented by the cricket governing body of India.
 "Akshita Patel")
