A report has now explained the new approach the BCCI has adopted over players’ selection amid recent criticism of its handling of injured players. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad for the 3-match T20I series against Afghanistan on Tuesday, though the selections came with a few conditions. The likes of Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana had an asterisk next to their names, suggesting that the board isn’t 100% sure of their fitness.
The BCCI has brought a significant change to its selection policy amid recent criticism over rushing injured players into the first team.
“They (players) understand that they’re not yet ready to participate in the national series. It’s always player-centric and team-centric. I think what the BCCI has done is there’s transparency in all the fitness reports and also in the selection. “At the end of the selection, whether it’s a release to the press, it’s clearly mentioned that these players are picked subject to fitness. Means if they don’t clear the fitness test, the selectors will know who the other players are who will go in their place if they don’t clear the fitness test. But, by the time it is effectively required for travel or to play the match, by that time he may be totally fit”.
So that communication is happening seamlessly. Because on the date of selection, we are rejecting him because on that day he is not fit, “So that is precisely why we do not outrightly reject him. The BCCI has now decided not to name a player in the squad unless the management is 200 percent sure of the fitness status, according to a report in Cricbuzz .
“Not just 100 per cent, but they want to be 200 per cent confident about a player’s availability before releasing him,” said a source familiar with the policy said. I mean, it’s basic common sense,” Laxman had said. “So if he gets picked within that period of 21 or 28 days, he will be taken into the team,” Saikia had said.
