India's Sanju Samson during a practice session before the third and final T20 International cricket match between India and Bangladesh at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, in Hyderabad, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)
Two weeks after he led Kerala in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India wicket-keeper Sanju Samson was excluded from the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy squad for failing to attend the team’s preparatory camp.
Samson led Kerala to a third-place finish in the league stage of Group E in the SMAT matches held in Hyderabad. Kerala missed out on a knockout spot behind eventual champions Mumbai and Andhra from the group.
However, Samson was not considered for the 50-over tournament after failing to report for Kerala’s brief camp, three days after being named in the 30-man probables last week. Kerala played two practice games at the Krishnagiri Stadium in Wayanad following which a 19-member squad was announced on Tuesday evening.
“Sanju had sent an email stating that he would not be available for the camp. The team had a short camp in Wayanad without him. Naturally, we only considered those who were part of the sessions for selection. There has been no further discussion with him on the matter,” KCA secretary Vinod S Kumar told The Indian Express.
Besides Samson, veteran batter Sachin Baby was also not considered for selection after suffering an injury during the SMAT campaign. “Sachin’s recovery period is slotted till December 21, following which we will take a call on his inclusion,” Kumar said.
In their absence, batter Salman Nizar will lead a fresh-look Kerala side after impressive T20 and Ranji Trophy performances.
Samson had entered the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 competition on the back of a roller-coaster T20I series in South Africa, where he registered two T20I centuries and as many ducks in the four-match series. Featuring in five of Kerala’s six league games, Samson scored 136 runs with one half-century.
Samson’s last 50-over assignment also came in India colours during the tour to South Africa in December 2023. Samson’s maiden hundred – an unbeaten 108 – in the series decider set up a 78-run win for India. Samson is Kerala’s third-highest (1,895) run-scorer in List A cricket, holding a career-best 212* in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Kerala squad: Salman Nizar (captain), Rohan S Kunnummal, Shoun Roger, Mohammed Azharuddeen M (wk), Anand Krishnan, Krishna Prasad, Ahammed Imran, Jalaj Saxena, Aditya Sarvate, Sijomon Joseph, Basil Thampi, Basil N P, Nidheesh MD, Eden Apple Tom, Sharafuddeen NM, Akhil Scaria, Vishweshwar Suresh, Vaishak Chandran, Ajnas M (WK).
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