New Delhi, Feb 29 (PTI) Member of the 1983 World Cup-winning team Kirti Azad on Thursday backed the BCCI’s directive for cricketers to play Ranji Trophy, saying it’s a good move and the rule should be applicable to every India team player, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
The out-of-favour duo of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were excluded from the list of centrally-contracted players after they ignored the directive to play Ranji Trophy.
“It (directive) is a very good move. Everybody should be playing Ranji Trophy cricket, but currently the emphasis is on the IPL. It is good, it is entertaining but the real cricket is the (five) days’ cricket. Playing in domestic cricket is good, it keeps you in touch.
“But whenever you are free, even if you’re a Rohit Sharma or a Virat Kohli, you should go back and play domestic cricket for the state. That (state) gave you the opportunity to be a player, get selected and then play for the country.
He felt that penalising just Ishan and Iyer wasn’t right.
“Just to penalise the two is not correct, I think everybody should be penalised. Everybody should be seen with the same mirror,” Azad told
Source: PTI News
