New Delhi: Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson’s exclusion from the ICC Champions Trophy squad didn’t came as a surprise given the episode of the Vijay Hazare Trophy absence fold up. After leading Kerala in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (India’s T20 domestic event), the 30-year-old wasn’t part of the 50-over squad for his state team in the 2024-25 edition.
It was reported that Samson had communicated to the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) over his unavailability for the three-day preparatory camp in Wayanad ahead of the Vijay Hazare season opener, which started on December 23, 2024. He was later on snubbed from the squad for the whole tournament as middle order batter Salman Nizar was named the team captain.
KCA’s reaction on Samson’s exclusion
According to reports, Samson was available for selection but the state association wasn’t satisfied over his decision to skip the camp. KCA president Jayesh George said that their captain can’t turn up for the camps on his own terms and should have respected the team requirements.
“The reason he (Samson) was not added in the Vijay Hazare squad was because he sent a one-line text saying he would not be available for the 30-member preparatory camp. We were all of the impression that he would be leading the team since he is our white-ball captain and had led in the SMAT season as well,” George was quoted as saying by MediaOne.
“So we went ahead and announced the squad and later he sent a message stating he is available for selection. Be it Sanju Samson or any other player, KCA has a policy in place that needs to be respected.”
“We all know that Sanju does not need a camp to come into the squad, but is the Kerala team one that he can come and represent only when he feels like? How did Samson reach the Indian team, it was only through the KCA. That doesn’t mean you turn up only when you feel like for the Kerala team,” the KCA president further added.
There were reports that suggested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had probed the case of Samson’s no-show for Kerala in the premier List A tournament and they decided to not include the keeper-player under their recent stringent policy for players’ participation in domestic cricket being mandatory for international selection.
Sanju Samson’s omission from India’s ICC Champions Trophy squad followed his absence from the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He skipped a pre-tournament camp, citing unavailability, a decision the Kerala Cricket Association deemed unacceptable. The KCA president stated that Samson’s actions violated team requirements, impacting his selection. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
