Mohammed Siraj to ignore BCCI's orders after CT snub? Pacer stays silent on Ranji participation

India’s fiery paceman Mohammed Siraj has been dropped from India’s ODI squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England, as well as the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Siraj was overlooked for the young gun Arshdeep Singh for the prestigious tournament.

Since Mohammed Siraj is not part of India’s upcoming assignment, the star pacer will have to fulfill his domestic commitments, thanks to the latest guidelines issued by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in the wake of the disastrous Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 campaign in Australia.

Recently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has mandated that all Indian players must participate in domestic cricket across the formats if they are not on national duty to remain eligible for the Team India selection and central contracts.

Hyderabad awaits Mohammed Siraj's decision for the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 after the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 snub

However, as the next round of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 is set to begin on January 23, there is still no clarity on Mohammed Siraj's participation for Hyderabad in the first-class tournament. Many top international stars are set to turn up for their state teams in the next Ranji round, including Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Shubman Gill.

Read Also: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Mohammed Siraj's axing shocks Aakash Chopra: 'No one knows about Bumrah, Shami's fitness'

But the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) remains in the dark about Mohammed Siraj’s availability for the remainder of the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25. It is being said that the Hyderabad cricket team management has yet to receive any communication regarding Siraj ahead of their crucial Ranji Trophy 2024-25 clash against Himachal Pradesh at home.

The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) President Jagan Mohan Rao and senior selection committee chairman Harimohan Puruvu also refused to share any update on the pacer’s availability. However, Siraj has been a regular fixture in the Ranji Trophy for his state team, Hyderabad.

We haven't heard anything on him from the HCA: Hyderabad cricket team management

A member of the Hyderabad cricket team management was quoted as saying by Times of India: “We are yet to get an update. As of now, we haven't heard anything on him from the HCA.”

The right-arm pacer has so far played 76 first-class matches and scalped 260 wickets at an impressive average of 26.10 and an economy rate of 3.26 with the best match figures of 6/21. He was also impressive on the recent Australia tour, where he finished with 22 wickets in 5 Test matches.

Mohammed Siraj also played a key role in taking the Men in Blue to the 2023 ODI World Cup final and 2024 T20 World Cup glory as well as the Asia Cup title victory in 2023. Despite his proven record and experience, the Indian selectors went with Arshdeep Singh for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025.

Read Also: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Navjot Singh Sidhu attacks Ajit Agarkar over Mohammed Siraj's axing with strong arguments

Rohit Sharma explains why Mohammed Siraj dropped from CT 2025 squad

Arshdeep has so far played only 8 ODIs, but Indian captain Rohit Sharma stressed that the young pacer’s ability to bowl at any stage of the game piped Siraj for the upcoming eight-nation tournament, where they will begin their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20.

Rohit Sharma stated, “Siraj, his effectiveness comes down when he is not bowling with the new ball."