MUMBAI: In a classic case of the Left not knowing what the Right is doing, the BCCI has been busy walking in circles last week over a decision relating to the Indian cricket team.
On 28 June, Indian team manager Girish Dongre wrote an email to the chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma – As per the board’s own protocol – asking for two replacements in the Indian team, one as back-up post Shubman sweetAnd another batsman.
Substitutions have been sought mainly for two reasons: a) in view of Gill’s injury, there is a vacancy in the bench for an opener; b) Another top-order batsman as the Indian team is going to be out of England for two months and if another unfortunate injury strikes, the quarantine rules will not allow last minute substitutions and travel.
It’s been a little over a week and Sharma hasn’t responded to emails. TOI asked Sharma if he had received the email and the former India pacer said, “You need to talk to the BCCI operations team about it”.
There was no response from the operations team.
The Indian team is fretting over England ahead of a series with – in a way – the goal as one of the “last boundaries”. Those in the know say, “Even though BCCI doesn’t want to send a replacement, why isn’t it written down. Like this, Virat And the rest can just focus on what is at hand”.
The BCCI, which is not really known for its communications, remains unaffected and has not received the time or requirement to respond to the letter.
For the record, the letter sent by the team manager does not ask which cricketers need to be sent in as replacements. The letter only calls for replacements and it is entirely up to the national selectors – Sharma and his colleagues – to take the decision.
Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka, the Indian team management – overseeing the white-ball series with the island nation – has no idea whether Prithvi Shaw and/or Devdutt Padikkal will be around for the whole series or he may have to travel to England. “Even if he doesn’t have to travel and the BCCI is not considering a replacement for England, at least not on these two names, the board is at least a clear ‘no’ on the matter. can tell and put an end to it.” Sources say.
The BCCI had sent a jumbo team to Australia in November last year, which proved to be a shot in the arm for the team. Despite injuries sustained during the tour, the team management had enough replacements due to the amount of benches.
He said, “They only sent 24 cricketers to England, out of which four are standby. Abhimanyu Ishwarani Has done well in first-class cricket, but is it worth making his debut against him? James Andersonhandjob jofra archer and Stuart Broad? KL Rahul is not being considered as an opener but in the middle order. So, if Gil’s injury needs to be replaced, and if it’s time to fly in one, what’s the harm in that?”
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The 25-year-old Bengal batsman is clearly a talent that needs to be nurtured. “But it is not a healthy sign to rush them like this and not pay attention to what the team is thinking.
Ultimately, whether the BCCI wants to look into Team India’s requests and fulfill them is to be taken up by the national selectors and the board secretary, who convenes the selection meetings. But not communicating with the Indian team is where BCCI is doing it wrong right now.
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