Praveen Kumar Calls for Equal Treatment in BCCI Contracts, Questions Special Privileges for Hardik Pandya

Former Indian fast bowler, Praveen Kumar, has voiced his concerns over the disparity in treatment within BCCI contracts, specifically highlighting the case of all-rounder Hardik Pandya. During a recent discussion on a YouTube show hosted by Shubhankar Mishra, Kumar criticized the preferential treatment given to certain players, such as Hardik Pandya, while questioning the exclusion of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan from BCCI’s annual contracts.

Praveen Kumar supported BCCI’s recent directive, making it compulsory for all contracted players to actively participate in domestic cricket. However, he stressed that this rule should be uniformly applied to all players, including Hardik Pandya, who was retained under the ‘A’ category of annual contracts despite a prolonged absence due to an ankle injury sustained during the ODI World Cup.

Kumar’s strong stance called for a level playing field, emphasizing that players like Hardik Pandya should not receive special privileges and needed to commit to representing India across all formats. He questioned Pandya’s limited involvement in Tests and challenged the rationale behind allowing him to focus solely on T20 cricket.

In response to BCCI’s recent decision to omit Iyer and Kishan from the list of contracted players due to alleged non-availability for domestic tournaments when fit, Kumar pointed out the need for consistency and accountability in player selections and contracts.

Hardik Pandya, who recently captained Gujarat Titans in the DY Patil tournament ahead of the IPL, is under scrutiny for his selective approach towards cricket formats. Kumar raised concerns about the lack of clarity surrounding Pandya’s Test future and called for transparency in communication between the player and the board.

With Pandya’s last Test appearance dating back to 2018 against England in Southampton, his Test career remains uncertain. Kumar stressed the importance of players clearly stating their preferences and commitments to avoid ambiguity in team selections.

Highlighting the need for clear guidelines and open dialogue between players and the board, Kumar urged for a fair and consistent approach towards contractual agreements and player responsibilities within the BCCI. The discussion surrounding players’ obligations to domestic cricket versus international duties continues to stir debate within the Indian cricketing fraternity.