Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary has weighed in on the recent controversy surrounding Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from the central contract list by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Tiwary, who retired from all formats of the game recently, disclosed insights into players faking injuries to skip domestic cricket matches.
The issue stemmed from Kishan and Iyer’s reported absence from Ranji Trophy matches, prompting the BCCI to exclude them from the central contract list. Despite being declared fit to play, Kishan did not participate in Jharkhand’s matches, while Iyer opted out of Mumbai’s quarterfinal tie.
While Kishan trained with Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya in Baroda, Iyer was allegedly seen participating in Kolkata Knight Riders’ training camp for the upcoming IPL season.
Tiwary acknowledged that while the BCCI’s decision might have been avoidable, it has sent a resounding message to all players regarding the importance of participating in domestic cricket. He emphasized the need for uniformity in enforcing rules for all players.
Furthermore, Tiwary highlighted the prevalence of players prioritizing the IPL over domestic cricket due to financial incentives. He expressed concerns over players’ commitment to domestic matches and observed instances where discussions during matches mainly revolved around the IPL.
Tiwary attributed this shift in focus to the significant financial rewards associated with IPL contracts, suggesting that players may subconsciously prioritize IPL commitments over domestic cricket.
He concluded by acknowledging the collective responsibility of players and urged for a reevaluation of priorities, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity and significance of domestic cricket tournaments.
