Sanju Samson's 'Vijay Hazare omission' followed by missing India squad sparks debate as KCA President reacts, MP Shashi Tharoor slams administration

Sanju Samson’s omission from India’s squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has also sparked in the Kerla Cricketing corridors. The home state cricket association of the cricketer has finally reacted after his absence from the Kerala lineup in the Vijay Hazare Trophy happened to be considered as one of the key reasons he failed to secure a spot in the India squad.

Last year in December, the KCA secretary stated that Sanju Samson wasn’t available for the three-day camp before the List-A tournament. Eventually, the association and selectors decided to consider only the players for selection who were part of that three-day camp. However, this policy of the association came under scrutiny as Abdul Bazith and Adiya Sarvate were considered in the Vijay Hazare squad even after missing the Wayanad camp, the same that Samson missed.

In the further development of things, Sanju Samson updated the association about his availability via email following Kerala’s first league stage game against Baroda. But it was denied by the association as secretary Kumar said that the contingent was already there in Hyderabad and two games had been played.

Samson reached the Indian team only through KCA – Jayesh George

Now, in the recent line of developments, KCA president Jayesh George reacted to the entire situation and he slammed Samson for not being part of the training camp.

“I am not sure if Samson missing the tournament was the reason he was excluded. The reason he was not added to the Vijay Hazare squad was because he sent a one-line text saying he would not be available for the 30-member preparatory camp. We were all of the impression that he would be leading the team since he is our white-ball captain and had led in the SMAT season as well,” said George to the Indian Express on Saturday.

“So, we went ahead and announced the squad and later he sent a message stating 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 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 Indian team, it was only through the KCA. That doesn’t mean you turn up only when you feel like for the Kerala team,” he added later.

Where does this leave him? – Shashi Tharoor slams KCA administration

Meanwhile, the veteran parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor came up with some hard words in his recent X post while slamming the administrators for not considering Samson in the VHT squad. He also expressed his feelings after the wicketkeeper-batter missed a chance to make it to India’s Champions Trophy squad.

“The sorry saga of the Kerala Cricket Association and Sanju Samson — the player wrote to KCA, in advance, regretting his inability to attend a training camp between the SMA and the Vijay Hazare Trophy tournaments, and was promptly dropped from the squad — has now resulted in Sanju’s exclusion from the Indian team,” wrote Shashi Tharoor in his X post.

“Doesn’t it bother the KCA bosses that by leaving Sanju out, they ensured Kerala didn’t even reach the quarter-finals of the Hazare? Where does this leave him?” he added later.

The sorry saga of the Kerala Cricket Association and Sanju Samson -- the player wrote to KCA, in advance, regretting his inability to attend a training camp between the SMA and the Vijay Hazare Trophy tournaments, and was promptly dropped from the squad -- has now resulted in…

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 18, 2025