BCCI secretary Jay Shah reveals who took call to remove Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from central contracts

Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were snubbed from BCCI’s contracts for 2023-24.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced its annual central contracts for the season 2023-24 in March 2024. The board divided players into Grade A+, Grade A, Grade B and Grade C categories and 30 players got the central contracts for the senior men’s category. However, the BCCI took a bold call as they snubbed middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer and wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan from their annual contracts list.

Both the star cricketers were asked to play in the Indian domestic circuit, but they skipped Ranji Trophy tournament, which resulted in BCCI not considering their names for the contracts for 2023–2024.

Shreyas then played in the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 for his domestic team Mumbai in the semi-finals and final. Kishan was spotted playing in the DY Patil Tournament as preparation for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah opens up about Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer’s removal from central contracts

After almost 2 months, BCCI secretary Jay Shah revealed that the omission of Kishan and Iyer from the central contracts was completely decided by chief selector Ajit Agarkar. Shah further added that his role is just to implement what has already been decided.

“You can check the constitution. I am just a convener (of the selection meeting),” he said during a media interaction at the BCCI head office on Thursday.

“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 the 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 added.

Had a word with Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer: Jay Shah

The BCCI secretary also claimed that he had a word with Ishan and Shreyas following their removal from central contracts. “Yes, I had spoken with them. Media had even carried the reports,” he said.

Shah also opened up that all-rounder Hardik Pandya also told the board that if they are considering him for white-ball, then he is ready to play Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Shah stressed that every player has to play in the Indian domestic circuit even if they don’t want to take part in it.

“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,” Jay Shah continued.

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