Murali Vijay refuses to take Covid-19 vaccine, pulls out of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Veteran Tamil Nadu cricketer Murali Vijay will not take part in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The right-handed batsman is hesitant to take the Covid-19 vaccine and does not want to undergo bubble life as well.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released the standard operating procedures, and has ordered the state associations to implement the same. The BCCI SOPs have mandated that a player should stay inside the bubble for a week before the tournament begins and should continue staying in the bubble as long as he is a part of the team as well.

And, Vijay is not keen on following these SOPs and as a result, the 37-year-old has not been considered for selection by Tamil Nadu for the tournament.

“It is his personal decision. He is hesitant to take the vaccine. The BCCI SOPs say that a player needs to be inside the bubble for a week before a tournament starts and then as long as he is with the team. But Vijay is not too keen on it. So the Tamil Nadu selectors haven’t considered him for selection,” stated a source.

The selectors have not even discussed about Murali Vijay: Source

The source further adds that the Tamil Nadu selectors have not even discussed Murali Vijay’s name in the selection meeting. Adding that Vijay might not have made it to the Tamil Nadu squad even if he had agreed to take the vaccine, the source concluded by stating that Vijay will have to prove his fitness to be considered for selection once again at his age.

“The selectors have not even discussed about him in the selection meeting and he didn’t even make it to the Tamil Nadu list of probables picked before the domestic season. So even if he is ready to take the vaccine and wants to make a comeback, it will be a long road for him because he won’t be picked immediately. He has to prove his fitness and needs to have a few matches under his belt to be selected for Tamil Nadu again,” said the source.