Batter Sarfaraz Khan and wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel are Heroes from the recently-concluded Test series against England at home, and on Monday, they were put into a central contract of BCCI after they fulfilled the criteria of playing three Tests in the current season.
Last month, when the annual retainers for the season 2023/24 were announced, it triggered a stir in India’s cricket, with Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan being dropped from the list. BCCI also revealed that Sarfaraz and Jurel would only get central contracts if they met the criteria of playing three Tests in the ongoing season. Both players debuted in the third match of the five-Test series against England in Rajkot. They fulfilled the requirements after appearing in Dharamsala’s fifth and final Test earlier this month.
Both Sarfaraz and Jurel have been put into Group C of the central contract of BCCI with an annual retainership fee of INR 1 crore. Their names were confirmed during the BCCI Apex Council meeting, which was held on Monday.
Sarfaraz Khan, who is a domestic heavyweight for Mumbai, smashed three half-centuries in three test matches against England, out of which two came in his debut Test. On the other hand, Jurel smashed a series-winning knock of 90 runs in the fourth Test match against England in Ranchi. His brilliant knock had helped team India bounce back from a first-innings deficit to script a five-wicket win and subsequently claim the series with a wicket in hand. Jurel, who also sparked comparisons with MS Dhoni following his effort, was also deemed the Winner of the wonmatch.
Another major plan at the BCCI Apex Council meeting was the calendar of the Ranji Trophy for the next season. It was discussed that during December and January, when fog and lousy light often play spoilsport, the board will not wait to schedule matches in the northern part of the country.
Although the announcement of a detailed domestic calendar will take place later as Apex Council, BCCI did discuss the tentative schedule of 2024/25.
As per the statement of the senior source of BCCI, there has been No decision taken yet, but just like in earlier years, the Ranji Trophy could start from mid or end of October after the end of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which acts as a platform for IPL auction. Some states are losing essential points in do-or-die matches because of chilly weather from mid-December to mid-February.”
