Former India head coach Ravi Shastri called on BCCI President Sourav Ganguly to look into the row over journalist Wriddhiman Saha – unnamed – and said the interests of all cricketers should be protected.
Wriddhiman Saha has been dropped from India’s friendly squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka in March (AFP Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Wriddhiman Saha shared a screenshot of his conversation with an unnamed journalist
- The journalist apparently threatened Saha for not speaking to him
- Saha has been dropped from India’s squad for the forthcoming Test series against Sri Lanka
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has condemned the threats Wriddhiman Saha received from an unnamed journalist in a strongly worded social media post. Shastri urged the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Sourav Ganguly, to step in and ensure players do not experience such situations in the future.
Wriddhiman Saha shared a private conversation on Saturday with an unnamed journalist. The news in the screenshot he shared appeared to threaten Saha for failing to speak to him about his exclusion from the Test squad for the upcoming two-game series against Sri Lanka in March. In a one-sided exchange of messages, the journalist was seen telling Saha that he was injured because the wicketkeeper didn’t respond to his calls and that he didn’t take insults well.
Sharing the screenshots of the news, Saha wrote on Twitter: “After all my coverage of Indian cricket…this is what I expect from a so-called ‘respected’ journalist! Journalism has disappeared here (sic).”
Former cricketers have defended Saha over the affair and have urged Saha to reveal the identity of the journalist who threatened him.
Ravi Shastri said such cases are too common and the board must investigate the matter to protect the interests of all cricketers.
“Shocking a player who is being threatened by a journalist. Obvious abuse of position. Something that happens too often #TeamIndia. Time to dive in for the BCCI PREZ. Find out who the person of interest to every cricketer is. This is serious business from Ultimate Teamman WS,” he wrote on social media.
Shocking a player being threatened by a journalist. Obvious abuse of position. Something that happens too often with #TeamIndia. Time to dive in for the BCCI PREZ. Find out who the person of interest to every cricketer is. This is serious from Ultimate Team Man WS https://t.co/gaRyfYVCrs
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) February 20, 2022
Meanwhile, Saha, who has been dropped from the Test squad, told the media on Sunday that head coach Dravid had asked him to consider retiring and that the team is trying to groom younger wicketkeeper-batters to replace Rishabh Pant, who the first is. choice stumpy in tests.
Head coach Rahul Dravid told the press after India’s 3-0 T20I success against the West Indies on Sunday that he was not at all hurt as Saha told the media about their conversation about the wicketkeeper’s future in Test cricket .
“Actually, I’m not hurt at all. I have great respect for Wriddhi and his achievements and contribution to Indian cricket. My conversation came from this place. I think he deserves honesty and clarity,” Dravid said.
India takes on Sri Lanka in a 2-Test series in Lucknow and Bengaluru starting March 4.
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