Sun Jan 19 16:58:26 UTC 2025: ## Samson’s Champions Trophy Snub Sparks Controversy

**Chennai, January 19, 2025** – The omission of star wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson from India’s Champions Trophy squad has ignited a firestorm of controversy. Fans and experts alike are questioning the decision, with many pointing to his absence from Kerala’s Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) squad as the likely cause.

Samson, despite captaining Kerala in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament, was excluded from the VHT after reportedly skipping a mandatory three-day preparatory camp. However, the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) president, Jayesh George, clarified that other players who also missed the camp were included in the VHT squad, highlighting Samson’s exclusion as a matter of policy, not performance.

George stated that Samson’s failure to attend the camp was a violation of KCA regulations. “The reason he was not added to the Vijay Hazare squad was because he sent a one-line text saying he would not be available for the 30-member preparatory camp,” George explained. He emphasized that all players, regardless of their stature, must adhere to team rules. The KCA president further revealed that he was contacted by BCCI COO Hemang Amin regarding Samson’s absence, confirming that no disciplinary action was taken against the player.

Samson’s last ODI appearance was in December 2023 against South Africa, where he scored a century. His impressive ODI record of 510 runs in 16 matches at an average of 56.66 further fuels the debate surrounding his exclusion from the Champions Trophy. The controversy underscores the complexities of player selection and the importance of adhering to team regulations, even for established international players.

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