BCCI Officials Feel Hardik Pandya’s Inclusion Adds to the Negativity for Vijay Shankar
Jan 25, 2019 at 8:09 PM
The latest move over the revoking of suspension over Hardik Pandya, in particular, hasn’t gone done well wholly, as some of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) opined that it would send a wrong indication to Tamil Nadu-based all-rounder Vijay Shankar. Regarding the to the interim suspension, the senior selection committee straightaway swung into action and drafted the Baroda all-rounder Pandya in Team India’s squad for the ongoing limited-overs series in New Zealand.
The officials have further questioned the dual standards of the committee for being choosy.
According to the senior BCCI official, the whimsical decision has left the official perplexed. Talking about the prerequisite, the functionary at the Board maintained also questioned the blocking of appointing an adjudicator. The official further asked about the odds of lifting the suspension condition when there stands no provision.
“I am still trying to wrap my head around the logic of it all. First, the players are suspended pending inquiry, knowing fully well that there is no Ombudsman. Then the associations’ efforts to appoint an Ombudsman is vicariously blocked. Replacements are selected and packed off to New Zealand. Then they decide to revoke the suspension when there is no provision for revoking suspensions,” a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying by HT.
A barrage of questions for an administration:
Moreover, as per the stance of the official, Rahul should have met the same fate. Also, the executive added the ineptitude of the administration had pushed the body to descend.
Bearing in mind, the official further posed a question to the cricket administration and selection committee regarding the introduction of Shankar in India’s squad.
“What is the message that you are sending to Vijay Shankar? Is our bench strength a sham? Indian cricket administration seems to be caught in a quicksand of incompetence and the more they wriggle, the more they sink,” BCCI official added.
Earlier, on Thursday (January 24), the Committee of Administrators (CoA) has mutually decided to lift the ban immediate on Pandya alongside KL Rahul. The decision came following the Supreme Court-appointed CoA had a suggestion from the Amicus Curiae PS Narasimha.
Pandya’s comments were ‘crasser’:
On the other side, Rahul will feature in the India A unofficial One-dayers against England Lions in Trivandrum.
The official enquired regarding the dual policy. The recent reports suggested the official were keen to pick Pandya following the revoking of an interim suspension. He added Pandya comments were more insensitive than Rahul during their appearance on a talk show.
“Pandya’s comments were much crasser than Rahul’s, but Pandya is back in the Indian team while Rahul is playing England Lions at home. What is the message that you are sending to Rahul?” BCCI’s senior official added.
Terming the move theatrical, the senior official has lambasted the authorities while dropping a bombshell. He added when there was no need for a replacement of Virat Kohli, who pushed the selection committee to take this decision.
Pressure to pick Pandya or what?
The duo in the form of Pandya and Rahul was the part of the earlier squad for the limited-overs fold.
“This is essentially the Theatre of the Absurd. When the complete squad, with replacements, was already there in New Zealand and when Virat Kohli’s absence did not merit sending a replacement a day earlier, who asked the selection committee to send Pandya and not send Rahul? Was the revocation of the suspension because of some pressure regarding Pandya? Who was the pressure from? Is it so easy to pressurize the selection committee?” official maintained.
Pandya and Rahul faced suspension on January 11 following their controversial remarks in the TV show Koffee with Karan.
The apex body will hear the matter on February 5, 2019.