BCCI should intervene between Saha’s matter: Ravi Shastri 

• The journalist has threatened Wriddhiman Saha. 
• Saha revealed the chats publicly in which he is being threatened. 

After sharing a snapshot of texts from a “journalist,” Wriddhiman Saha has received substantial praise. After being omitted from India’s Test squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, Saha took to social media to expose the texts’ contents.

Former Indian Cricketer Virender Sehwag was one of the first to endorse Saha, and now former India coach Ravi Shastri has weighed in on the debate. Shastri called it “shocking” that a journalist threatened a player and asked BCCI president Sourav Ganguly to investigate. 

“Surprising a sportsperson who a journalist has threatened. Abuse of power is blatant. This is something that happens far too often with #TeamIndia. It’s time for the BCCI President to get his hands dirty. Every cricketer’s curiosity is to find out who this guy is. Coming from WS, the ultimate team player, this is serious. “

On Sunday night, Shastri sent out a tweet. 

Pragyan Ojha and Harbhajan Singh, both former Indian cricketers, encouraged Saha to name the reporter in question.

“Please give him the name Wriddhi! As a player representative, I assure you that I will ensure that our cricket community boycotts this so-called journalist!!” 

On Saturday, India’s Test and Twenty20I squads were released. Veteran players Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, and Ishant Sharma were left out of the Test squad.

Later, Saha revealed that the team’s administration, led by head coach Rahul Dravid, had ordered him to contemplate “retirement” because he would no longer be considered for selection. 

Following his spirited 61 in the first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur in November, Ganguly messaged him, assuring him of a spot in the team

“as long as I’m here (as the BCCI’s chairman).” 

Dravid was asked about the selection call shortly after India’s 3-0 series win over the West Indies and how he felt about a private chat being played out in public like this. 

“I hold Wriddhiman Saha in high regard for his exploits and contributions to Indian cricket. My dialogue with him stemmed from that place, from my admiration and respect for him. I didn’t want the media to tell him about it. He deserved to be treated with honesty and clarity. On this matter, Dravid stated, “I’m not hurt at all.” 

“These are the types of discussions I have with athletes regularly. I’m not bothered by it since I don’t expect players to like all of the messages or agree with everything I say about them all of the time. That is not the case. You don’t always expect people to agree with you or like you when you have difficult conversations with them – sometimes you have to have them with players – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have the conversations.” 

Starting March 4, India will host Sri Lanka in a two-Test series at home.

Edited by: Mahi Gupta

Published by: Vishakha Verma