Two weeks after leading Kerala in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India wicketkeeper Sanju Samson has been dropped from the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy squad after failing to attend the team’s preparation camp.
Led by Samson, Kerala finished third in the league stage of Group E at the SMAT Games in Hyderabad. Kerala exited the group from the knockout stages behind eventual champions Mumbai and Andhra Pradesh.
However, Samson was not considered for the 50-over tournament after failing to report to a brief camp in Kerala three days after being named in the 30-man contingent last week. Kerala played two warm-up matches at the Krishnagiri Stadium in Wayanad after which the 19-member squad was announced on Tuesday evening.
Sanju had sent an email that he would not come to the camp. The team made a short camp in Wayanad without him. Naturally, we considered only those who attended the sessions for selection. There was no further discussion with him on the matter,” KCA secretary Vinod S Kumar told The Indian Express.
Apart from Samson, veteran batsman Sachin Baby was also not considered for selection after suffering an injury during the SMAT campaign. “Sachin’s recovery period is till December 21, after which we will take a call about his inclusion,” Kumar said.
Salman Nizar is the captain of the team
In their absence, batsman Salman Nizar will lead a new-look Kerala side after impressive T20 and Ranji Trophy performances.
Samson entered the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament on the back of a roller-coaster T20I series in South Africa, where he registered two T20I centuries and several ducks in the four-match series. Playing five of Kerala’s six league matches, Samson scored 136 runs with a half-century.
Samson’s last 50-over assignment also came in India colors during the tour of South Africa in December 2023. Samson’s maiden century in the series decider – an unbeaten 108 – sealed a 78-run victory for India. Samson is Kerala’s third-highest run scorer (1,895) in List A cricket, scoring a career-best 212* in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Kerala Team: Salman Nizar (captain), Rohan S Kunnammal, Shaun Roger, Mohammad Azharuddin M (wicketkeeper), Anand Krishnan, Krishna Prasad, Ahmed Imran, Jalaj Saxena, Aditya Sarawate, Sijoman Joseph, Basil Thampi, Basil NP, Nidish MD, Eden Apple Tom . , Sharafuddin NM, Akhil Skaria, Vishweshwar Suresh, Vaishakh Chandran, Aznas M (WK).
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