BCCI unhappy with Virat Kohli’s preference to County Cricket over Afghanistan Test?

Mumbai: Team India skipper Virat Kohli had recently confirmed that he would take part in England’s County cricket tournament to prepare for the country’s long bilateral series, starting in July. In June, India are slated to host Afghanistan in the latter’s first ever Test match after getting Test status.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Vinod Rai-led Committee of Administrators ( CoA) seem to be divided on this issue. While the BCCI wants Kohli to take part in the one-off Test, the CoA feels that the County stint will help the talismanic skipper get more game time ahead of the series. “If a decision has been taken to allow the India captain to miss an international game and play County cricket at that point of time, it would set a very bad precedent. It would give a very bad message to the visiting Afghanistan team; that maybe the opponents aren’t worthy for us. “It would be disrespectful to the Afghanistan team and also, it would be unfair on the broadcaster,” an official from the cricket board was quoted saying to The Indian Express. “(Even if) he is playing in England at that time, he can come back for one Test and then fly back.

And if he is so keen to play County cricket, has he sought permission to miss his IPL games?” the source added. However, in terms of Kohli’s availability for the lone Test, the CoA is yet to receive any communication from the cricket board. Meanwhile, Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO Shafiq Stanikzai also said that his players would miss the opportunity to play against the 29-year-old. “We lived this dream to play this first Test against India in India. That moment has come true. Virat is a world cricket icon, something our players will miss the exposure playing against,” he said. While the one-off Test will be held on June 14, the team will then travel to England as they begin preparations for the World Cup. India will kick off their England series on July 3 with the first T20I at Old Trafford. In total, the Men in Blue will play three T20Is, as many ODIs and five Tests in the tour, which concludes on September 11.