Suresh Raina gets the axe: India's limited-overs specialist fails to make BCCI grade

New Delhi: India's limited-overs' specialist Suresh Raina was on Wednesday dropped from from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) contracts list even as uncapped pacer Shardul Thakur was honoured with a Grade C contract.

The Committee of Administrators (COA) of the Indian cricket board met earlier today to decide on the Annual Player Contracts for the period ending 30 September 2017.

As expected, Test stars Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja and Murali Vijay were elevated to top rung, but the absence of Raina from any of the contracts will come as a shock to many of his fans.

The 30-year-old recently made his comeback to the team and played in the T20I series against England. He was later named the captain of the Uttar Pradesh team in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but didn’t participate in the domestic 50-over tournament.

Only yesterday, he was also overlooked for the Deodhar Trophy, not finding a spot in either of the India Blue or Red teams.

Raina was one of the Grade A players in 2014-15, and was dropped to Grade B last term.

In contrast, uncapped fast bowler Shardul was given a Grade C contract.