Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif has launched a scathing attack on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Latif claimed that the Indian board is forcing the Indian players to play domestic cricket because of the poor form of the team’s stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli made themselves available for the Ranji Trophy after a poor showing in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While Rohit played in Mumbai’s Ranji game against Jammu & Kashmir, Kohli will be playing for Delhi in a match against Railways which will begin on January 30.
Both Rohit and Kohli will be key to India’s chances in the upcoming Champions Trophy. While Rohit is the team’s captain, Kohli is likely to bat at No. 3. After their assignments in domestic cricket, they will get into the white-ball mold to prepare for the Champions Trophy.
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Is BCCI forcing every Indian player to play Ranji Trophy?
While speaking to IANS, Rashid Latif claimed that the packed international calendar doesn’t allow the players to be available for domestic cricket. According to him, the other players are also being targeted due to the poor form of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
“There is no time for players to play domestic cricket due to the packed international calendar. If needed they should play domestic cricket but due to the targeting of Rohit (Sharma) and Virat (Kohli), they’re forcing everyone to play domestic cricket,” Latif said.
Apart from Rohit and Kohli, a number of other players are also involved in the ongoing Ranji Trophy. Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rishabh Pant are some of those current national players. KL Rahul will play for Karnataka in the next match beginning on January 30.
Rashid Latif wants Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to prepare for Champions Trophy
Rashid Latif also feels that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have taken India to the T20 World Cup title and the ODI World Cup 2023 final without playing domestic cricket. He wants both these players to concentrate on white-ball cricket for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
“In the past, barring Sachin Tendulkar, others have not played much domestic cricket. Rohit and Virat have won the T20 World Cup and reached the final of the ODI World Cup without playing domestic cricket,” Latif observed.
“They will next play the ODI series against England so they should prepare for it as white-ball is a totally different game,” the former Pakistan wicketkeeper added.
Key part of India’s ODI team
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain a key part of India’s ODI team despite their poor Test form. Both of them were key to India’s successful run to the final in the ODI World Cup 2023 where the team just failed to clinch the title.
Kohli and Rohit were the top two run-getters in that tournament. The upcoming Champions Trophy will be crucial and can even decide their future. Their experience will be handy for India as they aim to lift the trophy.
