Sanju Samson available but KCA yet to make decision on Vijay Hazare Trophy inclusion

Sanju Samson, who was part of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024-25 squad of the Kerala team, refused to attend the team's pre-tournament camp for the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2024-25 at Wayanad. After the camp, he was not included in the squad that went to Hyderabad to play their league-stage games. 

However, the India wicket-keeper batter, who smashed back-to-back centuries in T20Is this year, seems to have conveyed to the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) that he wants to be part of the side. However, the association has not yet made it clear whether they want to include him in the squad. 

“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 was quoted as saying to The Indian Express.

“Sanju has updated us that he is available for selection over the last two days. We are yet to take a call on his inclusion. There is a full contingent already there in Hyderabad and only two games have been played,” he added. 

In their first two games, Kerala lost against Baroda as they conceded more than 400 runs. Against Madhya Pradesh, they were bowled out for 160, and the opposition was 99/5 when the match was abandoned. At the end of the first two matches, Kerala is at the bottom of the points table in Group E.