Despite being fit, Shreyas Iyer was out of Ranji citing back injury, NCA exposed

Mumbai right-handed batsman Shreyas Iyer has withdrawn his name from the Ranji Trophy quarter-final clash against Baroda starting on Friday. He has informed that he is not available for selection citing back pain as the reason. Earlier, Shreyas did not play in the 7th round of the Ranji match for Mumbai and now he is out of the knockout match due to injury.

But just a day after Iyer was out of the team, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) revealed that he is completely fit. According to a report in 'The Indian Express', Nitin Patel, head of Sports Science and Medicine at NCA, informed the selectors in an email that Shreyas has no new injuries and is completely fit.

Patel wrote in his email, 'As per the handover report of the Indian team after the second Test match against England, Shreyas Iyer was fit and available for selection. At present, there is no news of any fresh injury after leaving Team India.

The young players who are not included in the Ranji Trophy despite not being picked for the Indian team have infuriated the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Instead of playing red-ball cricket, many young players are waiting for the Indian Premier League (IPL). The BCCI had forewarned these players and instructed them to join their respective state Ranji teams in such a scenario.

In a letter, the BCCI threatened to take action against players who, while fit, choose not to play domestic cricket. Then word spread that Shreyas Iyer would be representing Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal.

Apart from Iyer, Shivam Dubey, who scored a century for Mumbai in the last match, is also injured. He will also not be able to play Mumbai's match against Baroda. Mumbai have included 19-year-old all-rounder Musheer Khan for the knockout stage.