Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma asked to play domestic one-dayers by BCCI: Report
New Delhi: Amid growing speculation over their ODI futures, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly asked senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to feature in domestic one-day matches if they wish to remain in contention for national selection.
“The board and team management have conveyed to both of them that they will have to play domestic cricket if they want to play for India. As they both have retired from two formats, they have to play domestic cricket to be match-fit,” The Indian Express quoted sources in the board as saying.
Both Kohli and Rohit have stepped away from Tests and T20 Internationals but continue to represent India in ODIs. The first opportunity for their domestic return could come on December 24, during the Vijay Hazare Trophy — the only one-day competition on the calendar between India’s home ODI series against South Africa and New Zealand.
According to the report, Rohit has already informed the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) that he will be available to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Kohli, on the other hand, is yet to clear the status of his availability for the domestic one-day tournament.
BCCI selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar earlier emphasised that players must participate in domestic cricket whenever they are available, noting that consistent match play is essential to staying sharp, especially after extended breaks. “Whether that's possible with the international cricket you're playing or not, only time will tell, but if the guys are free, they should be playing domestic cricket," he had stated.
Kohli (37) and Rohit (38) last appeared in the ODI series in Australia last month, where they combined for a match-winning partnership in the final game. While Rohit struck a century in the third ODI, Kohli bounced back from a slow start to score an unbeaten 74.
Rohit has reportedly shown interest in featuring in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, which begins on November 26, and has been training at Mumbai’s Sharad Pawar Indoor Academy.
Meanwhile, the Indian board is hoping to also see Kohli, who lives in London these days, playing domestic cricket.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
