It has emerged that the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) had approached the BCCI to allow Ravindra Jadeja to play the Ranji Trophy final against Bengal in Rajkot, starting Monday, but the request was turned down by Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI president.

SCA president Jaydev Shah told the Indian Express that he had spoken to Ganguly, who had stressed on "country first", as India would be starting an ODI series against South Africa on March 12 in Dharamsala.

"I spoke to him [Ganguly] and was told that the board can't allow Jadeja to play Ranji as country comes first," Shah said. "If BCCI wants people to watch their premier domestic cricket then no international game should be held during Ranji final, henceforth. It's my suggestion.

"Will BCCI keep an international match during IPL? No, because it gives money. Ranji Trophy can only be popularised if star players play at least in the finals. Don't keep any international cricket during finals, have a proper window."

Like Jadeja, Mohammed Shami is also expected to be a part of the India ODI squad - he suffered an external injury in the last Test in New Zealand - and will not be a part of the Bengal line-up, but Test specialists Cheteshwar Pujara (Saurashtra) and Wriddhiman Saha (Bengal) are available for selection.

"I would have loved to see him (Jadeja) play the Ranji Trophy final for us, why only Jadeja, I would have loved to see Mohammad Shami (for Bengal) also," Shah said.