Irfan Pathan takes a dig at Shreyas Iyer after controversial withdrawal from Ranji Trophy
Published - 22 Feb 2024, 11:24 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 10:26 AM
After being excluded from India’s Test squad due to poor form, it was reported that Indian batsman Shreyas Iyer has also pulled out from the Ranji Trophy 2024.
Iyer expressed issues with his back due to which he was unavailable for selection for the Mumbai Ranji team. However, Iyer was given the fitness clearance by the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. This development came shortly after Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan also made him unavailable for the Jharkhand cricket team selection.
While numerous warnings from head coach Rahul Dravid and the BCCI’s instructions for players to play domestic red-ball matches, Shreyas Iyer’s unexpected choice to withdraw while being reported fit has raised worries.
Irfan Pathan suspects Shreyas Iyer’s withdrawal from domestic cricket
Former Indian bowler Irfan Pathan believes there is something strange about the incident and has expressed worries about Shreyas Iyer’s condition. Pathan wrote on ‘X’, “Is there a different rules for different players for not playing Indian first class cricket in the name of looking after the body?”
Is there a different rules for different players for not playing Indian first class cricket in the name of looking after the body?
Shreyas Iyer was released from India‘s Test squad due to his poor form in the first two games of the IND vs ENG Test series. Iyer wasn’t picked for the last three Tests and was asked to play domestic cricket. Earlier this month BCCI had made it mandatory for all the Indian players who were off the field due to unnecessary reasons to play first-class cricket compulsorily. Iyer has not scored a single half-century in Tests from the last 13 innings.
Despite experiencing problems with his lower back and groin while batting in the second Test in Vizag, both the BCCI medical team and the NCA staff declared him fit. Despite being available for selection, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee decided to drop him and instead advised that he play in the Ranji Trophy. However, Iyer decided not to take this suggestion.
Shreyas Iyer’s withdrawal from domestic cricket came just four days after BCCI secretary Jay Shah had highlighted that the unexpected trend of players preferring IPL over domestic cricket was not anticipated. Shah also expressed his satisfaction with the growth of the Indian Premier League.
Jay Shah had said in Rajkot, “There is a trend that has started to emerge and is a cause for concern. Some players have begun prioritising the IPL over domestic cricket, a shift that was not anticipated. Domestic cricket has always been the foundation upon which Indian cricket stands, and it has never been undervalued in our vision for the sport.”
Shreyas Iyer was out of action from international cricket for almost 5 to 6 months in the early half of 2023. Iyer had undergone back surgery, however, he wasn’t able to recover fully from it and hence was once again ruled out of international cricket. However, Iyer’s performance in white ball cricket has been excellent, and was also among the top 10 run scorers in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
The Mumbai batsman has not been able to continue his form in the red ball format despite scoring a ton in his debut Test. BCCI has been constantly giving chances to younger players and has significantly released the non-performing players.
