BCCI “Prioritizes IPL Franchises” as per Jay Shah’s Statement Before T20 World Cup

Following the conclusion of the India vs England Test series, the cricket calendar will be dominated by T20 action for the top players, starting with the two-month long Indian Premier League (IPL). This will be followed by the 2024 T20 World Cup in June. India, having experienced disappointment in the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, is looking to move past the result and begin anew. There is a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that all IPL franchises must adhere to the workload management guidelines for centrally contracted players.

According to Jay Shah, the Secretary of the BCCI, the franchises are required to comply with the BCCI’s decisions. The BCCI has made it mandatory for Indian players to participate in at least three or four matches of the Ranji Trophy if they wish to play in the IPL. Shah emphasized that the chairman of selectors, coach, and captain have requested this requirement, and he intends to notify the players by letter as well. However, he stressed that any decision would be made in consultation with the guidance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore.

Shah also noted that the advice from the NCA takes into account the physical ability of the players to handle both white-ball and red-ball cricket. He made it clear that fit and young players will need to comply with the BCCI’s directives, and any resistance will not be tolerated. This directive applies to all centrally contracted players.