‘Why clarity right now?’ No decision on Rohit Sharma’s captaincy for T20 world cup and Hardik Pandya likely to play against Afghanan in January | Cricket News

Hardik Pandya is likely to comeback from injury and play in the T20 home series against Afghanan that starts on January 11, according to the BCCI secretary Jay Shah. There has been much speculation about the possibility of Rohit Sharma leading India in the T20 world cup in June, but Shah said that nothing has been decided yet.
“What is the need to have clarity right now? It (T20 World Cup) is starting in June, we have the IPL before that and the series against Afghanan,” Shahs said on the sidelines of the Women’s Premier League auction.
Pandya is currently undergoing rehab for his ankle injury, suffered during the ODI world cup, and Shah reckons the comeback could be sooner than previously anticipated.
“We are monitoring it on a day-to-day basis. He is at NCA only, he is working very hard and we will let you know in the due course the moment he is fit. He could be fit before the Afghanan series also,” Shah said. Pandya, who was the face of the television promos for the white-ball series in South Africa this month, was ruled out of that series.
In another update, about the future of Rahul Dravid and his support staff with the Indian team, Shah said that they have been given extension though their contracts are yet to be finalised.
“We did not get time at all, they finished (with the World Cup), I had a meeting with them and we agreed mutually that they will continue. We will sit down and decide once they return from South Africa. We have given the extension but we are yet to finalise the contract,” Shah added.
There have been some murmurs about why Mumbai has been the lone venue option for hosting women’s cricket and Shah explained that it’s a result of logics. Much like the women’s series against England and Australia this month, the WPL second season will be held in February in Mumbai.
During the meeting with franchise owners of WPL earlier in the day, the Indian board has informed them that WPL second season is likely to be held in Mumbai again as it has three stadiums: Wankhede Stadium, Brabourne Stadium and DY Patil Stadium.
“Basically it is a joint call between the franchises and the BCCI. We will sit together and we will decide. We will let you know. It will be in one state, that is sure. It will be more successful this time. The biggest thing that you saw today was that two uncapped players have got such big amounts, especially Indian players. The franchises have shown a lot of interest towards the Indian players which is a big thing.”
After hosting a successful ICC 50 overs men World Cup, the Indian board is scheduled to host ICC Women’s World Cup next year at home. Shah assured that the board will not differentiate in hosting two tournaments. “The way you do not get to see any difference between IPL and WPL, similarly you will not get to see any difference between the men’s World Cup and women’s World Cup. We will ensure the same treatment is given.”
The Indian men’s team hasn’t played a pink ball Test for a while now, and Shah put it down to the fact that pink-ball Tests tend to finish within 2-3 days.
“We will have to increase the amount of interest in the public for the pink-ball Test. If you recall, the Test ended in 2-3 days. Everyone wants to watch a Test match lasting 4-5 days. Once they get more used to it we will do more pink-ball Tests. Last time it was done in Australia, no one has done it since then. We were in talks with England, but we will do it gradually,” he said.