New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly said to investigate on the matter of Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson having skipped the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025, India’s premier List A tournament.
Samson was dropped from Kerala’s Vijay Hazare squad after the 30-year-old wasn’t part of the squad’s preparatory camp, which was set ahead of the tournament (started on December 21, 2024). This was a bit strange because the player captained Kerala in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 (India’s T20 competition among state teams).
Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) secretary Vinod S Kumar stated that they didn’t wanted a younger player to lose his spot because of Samson’s unavailability. According to an ESPNcricinfo report, Samson had wrote to KCA about his absence from the preparatory camp, but the state association decided against his inclusion.
Middle order batter Salman Nizar was named the captain of Kerala following the snub of Samson. The southern state team won only two of their five played matches in Group E to finish on fifth place with 10 points.
What’s next for Samson?
According to a report by Times of India, sources within the BCCI said that the matter will be discussed before the selectors meet to finalise the squad for the three-match ODI series against England along with the Champions Trophy squad.
The report suggested that unless Samson doesn’t provide a relevant reason for the Vijay Hazare Trophy absence, the keeper-batter’s spot for the Champions Trophy won’t be a possibility.
“The selectors would want a valid reason. Otherwise, it will be difficult to consider him for the ODI season. Samson has had a bitter history with the KCA, but that needs to be sorted out for him to play in domestic cricket,” the source was quoted by Times of India.
“It can’t be that the state association and him have a misunderstanding, and he misses out on game time. He did play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy preceding the Vijay Hazare Trophy,” the source added.
Samson is part of India’s upcoming five-match T20I series squad against England, starting on January 22. However, the Vijay Hazare Trophy was necessary for the selectors to look upon the potential picks for the Champions Trophy.
Sanju Samson was dropped from Kerala’s Vijay Hazare squad after the 30-year-old wasn’t part of the squad’s preparatory camp, which was set ahead of the tournament. This was a bit strange because the player captained Kerala in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
