File picture of Kapil Dev.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
“A few players will suffer, but let it be,” stated legendary former India captain Kapil Dev on Friday as he backed the BCCI’s resolution to terminate central contracts for lack of dedication to domestic cricket, calling it a much-needed step to guard marquee first-class occasions just like the Ranji Trophy.
Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer had been on Wednesday excluded from the BCCI’s central contracts after ignoring the board’s diktat to play within the Ranji Trophy. The resolution evoked combined reactions with some former players like Kirti Azad and Irfan Pathan backing the out-of-favour duo.
Kapil kept away from taking names but stated the BCCI’s resolution to say the significance of domestic cricket was lengthy overdue.
“Yes, few players will suffer, kuch logon ko taqleef hogi, hone do lekin desh se badhkar koi nahi hai (some people will feel hurt but let it be because nobody is bigger than the country). Well done,” he stated.
“I congratulate the BCCI for taking the much needed step to protect the status of domestic cricket. I was sad to see domestic cricket being given the skip by players once they had established themselves in international cricket,” the captain of the 1983 World Cup-winning facet noticed in his assertion.
The BCCI, whereas saying the central contracts, urged the players to offer due significance to domestic competitions.
The 25-year-old Kishan didn’t flip up for Jharkhand all through the workforce’s marketing campaign in Ranji Trophy regardless of not being on nationwide responsibility after leaving the tour of South Africa in December citing private causes. He as an alternative focussed on getting ready for the IPL subsequent month for his franchise Mumbai Indians.
Iyer, on the opposite hand, didn’t make himself out there for Mumbai’s Ranji quarterfinal in opposition to Baroda after being excluded from the Indian workforce after the second Test in opposition to England. He, nevertheless, has been picked for Mumbai’s Ranji semifinal in opposition to Tamil Nadu beginning March 2.
“It was high time the message was given and this strong step by the BCCI will go a long way in restoring the prestige of domestic cricket,” he added.
Kapil asserted that it was the responsibility of established stars to play domestic cricket as they owe their success to their respective states.
“I have always believed in the process of international players making themselves available to play for their respective states. It helps them extend their support to domestic players. Also it is a nice way to pay back for the services rendered by the state association in grooming a player,” he stated.
Kapil additionally expressed his gratitude to the BCCI for enhancing the pension of former cricketers, saying it has come as a serious aid to households of a number of yesteryear players.
In 2022, the board had introduced a hike within the month-to-month pensions of former cricketers — each women and men.
Former first-class males’s cricketers, who earlier obtained Rs 15,000 per 30 days at the moment are getting Rs 30,000, whereas former Test players, who obtained Rs 37,500, at the moment are getting Rs 60,000.
Women worldwide players, who acquired Rs 30,000 previous to the revision at the moment are receiving Rs 52,500, whereas first-class cricketers who retired earlier than 2003 and had been getting Rs 22,500 at the moment are getting Rs 45,000.
“I am also happy that the BCCI has increased the pension amount of the players. This was a much needed boost to those whose family depends on the pension received,” added Kapil.
