BCCI's Contract Termination: Kapil Dev Backs Move to Protect Domestic Cricket

BCCI's Contract Termination for Domestic Neglect: A Step to Protect First-Class Cricket

Legendary Indian cricketer Kapil Dev has lauded the BCCI's decision to terminate central contracts for players who prioritize international cricket over domestic commitments. This move, he believes, is crucial to safeguard marquee first-class events like the Ranji Trophy.

The BCCI recently excluded Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from its central contracts after they ignored the board's directive to participate in the Ranji Trophy. The decision sparked mixed reactions, with some former players supporting the duo. However, Kapil Dev has unequivocally backed the BCCI's stance.

"Yes, a few players will suffer, but let it be," said Kapil. "Nobody is bigger than the country. Well done."

He emphasized the importance of domestic cricket in nurturing and developing players. "I was sad to see domestic cricket being given the skip by players once they had established themselves in international cricket," he observed.

The BCCI's decision is intended to send a strong message that domestic competitions must be given due importance. Kishan, despite not being on national duty, chose to focus on IPL preparations instead of playing for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy. Iyer, on the other hand, made himself unavailable for Mumbai's Ranji quarterfinal after being dropped from the Indian team.

Kapil believes that established stars have a duty to support domestic cricket, as they owe their success to their respective states. "International players should make themselves available to play for their states," he said. "It helps them extend their support to domestic players and pay back for the services rendered by the state association."

The BCCI's move has also been welcomed by former cricketers who have benefited from the enhanced pension scheme. Kapil expressed his gratitude for the increase in monthly pensions, which has provided much-needed relief to families of yesteryear players.

Tags: #BCCI, #CentralContracts, #DomesticCricket, #RanjiTrophy, #IshanKishan