The Kerala Cricket Association president Jayesh George has criticised Wk-batter Sanju Samson suggesting that his absence from the state’s Vijay Hazare Trophy squad may have led to his omission from India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad.
Samson was left out of Kerala’s Vijay Hazare Trophy squad because he missed the team’s three-day preparation camp in Wayanad.
After BCCI announced India’s squad for the Champions Trophy 2025, KCA the president revealed that Samson’s absence from the Vijay Hazare Trophy was due to his non-participation in the team’s preparation camp.
However, George was uncertainty whether Samson’s absence from the VHT was the sole reason for his exclusion from India’s 50-over team.
‘I am not very sure that Sanju missing the Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament was the reason behind his exclusion from the Champions Trophy 2025 squad.
“The reason that he was not added in the Vijay Hazare Squad was because he sent a one-line text saying he wouldn’t be available for the 30-member preparatory camp. We all know that Samson doesn’t need a camp to come into the squad.”
“We were all of the impression that he would be leading the team since he is out white-ball captain and had led SMT season as well,” said George.
“So we went ahead and announced the squad, and later he sent a message stating that he is available for selection. Be it Sanju Samson or any other player, KCA has a policy in place that needs to be respected.”
We all know that Sanju Samson does not need a camp to come into the squad, but is the Kerala team one that he can come and represent only when he feels like it.”
How did Samson reach the India Team? It was only through the KCA’, added George.
George also added that he received a call from Hemang Amin, the chief operating officer of the BCCI, who inquired about Samson’s absence from the domestic Vijay Hazare Trophy.
“Hemang Amin asked me if there was any disciplinary action taken against Samson that was held him back from playing in the Vijay Hazare Games. I replied in the negative, and he wouldn’t have been up for the Champions Trophy cosideration had i suggested otherwise.”
Sanju Samson had an impressive outing while playing for India in white-ball cricket, where he scored three centuries in his last T20I appearances.
Despite his ODI team snub, Samson was named in the five match T20I series against England which begins on January 22.
