New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to release its central contracts for men’s cricket, with potential changes looming in the prestigious A+ category. The announcement comes in the wake of several cricket stalwarts retiring from T20 Internationals, prompting discussions among stakeholders about the retention criteria for the top-tier contracts.
Shreyas Iyer, who was previously dropped from the central contracts list, is expected to make a comeback following his strong performances in recent months. The 30-year-old batsman has been in impressive form, particularly in One Day Internationals (ODIs), where he has played a crucial role for the Indian team.
The BCCI’s central contracts are typically prepared by the national selection committee in consultation with the head coach and secretary. The A+ category, which carries the highest retainership fee of Rs 7 crore, has traditionally been reserved for players who are automatic selections across all three formats of the game.
However, with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja retiring from T20Is, their status as all-format players has changed. This development has sparked debates among BCCI officials about whether to maintain the status quo or revise the criteria for the top category.
In other potential changes, Ravichandran Ashwin is expected to be removed from the contract list following his retirement from international cricket. Axar Patel, who has been a regular in ODIs and T20Is and has also featured in 14 Test matches, might be elevated from Group B to A.
The final list is anticipated to be released in the coming days, with cricket fans and analysts eagerly awaiting the BCCI’s decisions on these crucial contracts.
