The president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Sourav Ganguly made it clear to the media and the cricketers that all the players will have to go to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for post-injury rehabilitation.
A few days back, the Indian spearhead bowler Jasprit Bumrah refused to go to NCA for rehabilitation when he returned from his back injury.
After meeting with Rahul Dravid, the Head of Cricket at NCA, Ganguly has announced that the players will have to go to NCA and if anyone else has to treat them then they too will have to come to the academy. This meeting was held days after the NCA refused to perform the fitness test for Bumrah after his return from the back injury.
Ganguly and Dravid sit together to renovate NCA as the “spick and span”
Ganguly said that during his meet with Rahul Dravid, they made new plans to rejuvenate the academy and maintain a new system. Referring to Bumrah and Hardik Pandya’s recovery from injury, Ganguly said that the players will have to go to NCA.
“I met Rahul Dravid yesterday, and we have put a system in place. The bowlers will have to go to the NCA. If anybody (else) has to treat them, they will have to come to NCA,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.
He also said that the academy will be renovated within a span of 18 months and will provide all the accommodations to the players.
“Whatever may be the reason, we will accommodate everything. We will also make sure the players are comfortable and they don’t feel left out or out of place. So, we will do it that way.”
“We are going full throttle with the NCA. Construction work will start (at the new land) and it will be a state-of-the-art unit. In 18 months’ time, if we are still there, you will see an NCA that will be spick and span.”
On the other hand, Ganguly was asked about his proposal for a four-nation ‘ODI Super Series’ between involving Australia, England and one more nation. In answer to this, the President of BCCI has claimed that they will have to get clearances from the broadcasters and ICC before the “niche tournament” plan works out.
“It’s a proposal. Let’s see where it goes. The reason behind it is only to have a good, competitive tournament. So, that’s where it stands. We will have to get clearances from the broadcasters and ICC for a four-nation tournament. Then, there are the Future Tours Programme (FTP) areas to look at, as to where do we fit it within the FTP. But it’s just a way to create a niche tournament.”
“We are looking for quality cricket. What we see today, is only bilaterals happening. People want to see a high-class tournament and we are attempting to do it. Look at the crowds in the Boxing Day Test between Australia and New Zealand. So, that’s also one of the reasons. Pink Ball Test was one such effort to generate crowd interest,” he added.