New Delhi: The BCCI has decided to conduct fitness tests of players before they are picked in the national teams to avoid embarrassing late withdrawals like the ones by Mohammad Shami and Ambati Rayudu from the Test and ODI sides after failing the YoYo test.
Sanju Samson was the third cricketer who could not pass the mandatory YoYo test after being named in the India A ODI squad for the UK tour. The teams for the one-off Afghanistan Test, India and A tour of the UK, were announced in the middle of the IPL last month.
The issue was discussed at the latest Committee of Administrators (CoA) meeting in the presence of chairman Vinod Rai, Diana Edulji, BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and Saba Karim, (GM, cricket operations).
“Going forward, players will be picked after they pass the YoYo test only. No use having it, after the player has been selected. If he fails it puts the player as well as board in an awkward situation,” a BCCI official told this agency, Tuesday.
Rayudu, who had made a comeback to the Indian ODI side after a prolific IPL, was not able to attain the fitness standard set by the team management and Suresh Raina replaced him for the ODI series in England. Same was the case with Shami before the Afghanistan Test. The pacer will however get another opportunity to prove his fitness before team selection for the five-Test series against England.
Rohit test today
New Delhi: The drama surrounding Indian limited overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma’s YoYo test continued as he is now set to appear for the fitness exam Wednesday at the NCA in Bangalore. It is learnt that Test team vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has been kept on standby as of now in case Rohit fails to clear the 16.1 qualifying mark. “There is nothing new in having a standby. In case the necessity arises, Rahane is being seen as a reserve opener and will fill in that role. As of now, we have not heard that Rohit has any fitness issues,” a senior BCCI official said Tuesday.