Wriddhiman Saha was dropped from the Test side on Saturday when chief selector Chetan Sharma announced the squad for the upcoming Sri Lanka series.
It has also been learned – both from Chetan Sharma and Saha – the wicket-keeper had been told he won’t be considered for selection soon after the South Africa series as the selectors and management are looking to groom younger wicket-keeper, KS Bharat in this case, as a backup to Rishabh Pant.
On Saturday evening then Saha took to Twitter to reveal a sensational text message in which a “respected journalist” was threatening the veteran cricketer for denying him an interview, saying “You did not call. Never again will I interview you. I don’t take insults kindly. And I will remember this.” Further adding “This wasn’t something ypu (you) should have done.”
Saha expressed his displeasure with these texts. “After all of my contributions to Indian cricket..this is what I face from a so called “Respected” journalist! This is where the journalism has gone,” he captioned his post.
After all of my contributions to Indian cricket..this is what I face from a so called “Respected” journalist! This is where the journalism has gone. pic.twitter.com/woVyq1sOZX
— Wriddhiman Saha (@Wriddhipops) February 19, 2022
Several former cricketers, including former head coach Ravi Shastri and Pragyan Ojha, who is the representative of the Indian Cricketers Association, in support of Saha, urging him to name the journalist.
Now, it has been learned that the BCCI will has decided to initiate an investigation and take strict action against the journalist.
“Saha is a contracted cricketer of the BCCI. The onus is on the Board to not let its own player down. That aside, if there is any kind of a nexus at work here, one has to look into it,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying by the Times of India.
Saha also told ESPNcricinfo that BCCI President had assured him of his place after his fighting fifty in Kanpur versus New Zealand that. However, he was confused when he was dropped. The BCCI official in concern also expressed surprise at Ganguly’s assurance to Saha.
“What was the need for a BCCI official to speak with Saha and assure him of a place in the side? ‘I don’t need to worry till he’s there’. Kitni galat baat hai yeh (How wrong it is to say something like this),” the official added.
“First the Virat incident happened, then all this. And then he’s (Saha) posted that tweet of the screenshot (of messages he received from a journalist). What the h*** is happening? The Board has to act because enough is enough.”
Along with Saha, three other senior cricketers – Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ishant Sharma – have been dropped from the Sri Lanka Tests.
