Crammed international schedule and players' burn out-- well nothing secretive about it, but yet nobody dared to come out strongly until maverick Indian skipper MS Dhoni cropped up the issue after the India-Bangladesh match in the Asia Cup on Saturday.
Although, he didn't thumb BCCI's nose in particular, the board was quick in their reflexes. Hounded by the omnivorous journos, they quickly ricocheted the salvo back to the players and quickly washed off its hands.
Putting the blame of the international body and the ACC, BCCI tried to clean up its act giving reasons like prior commitment with the ICC and bi-lateral issues. well, I guess they just missed out of the moolah issue. One would surely love to ask the BCCI what was the commitment behind hosting the 44-days Indian Premier League. It was neither a bilateral issue nor an ICC committment but pure lure for mega bucks.
In pursuit of its dollar dreams, they made the players slog here and there and if the IPL was not enough, there was this tournament called 'Kitply' tri-series, but ask them and they have a clear explaination: "No body complained about fatigue." Well, I guess the players are not fool to defy the great BCCI and risk their career and engage in carrying water bottles or cooling their heels all their life. They say they have the right to inform the board about burn out, well yes only on papers, I guess.
The ACC was also quick to react, reluctant to take it lying low the ACC chief Ashraful lashed out saying that the schedule was finalised by Pakistan Cricket Board and the ACC, and all the boards of participating countries had given their approval. Well, as the mudsling continues, the players fatigue issue is once again being brushed under the carpet.
ICC, ACC or BCCI--whoever may be the reason, its the players who are at the receiving end. No doubt, this overload has left the players, "Oh aah and ouch" and converted the Indian team into a virtual hospital with as many as five top players cooling their heels becuase of injuries. Sachin Tendulkar is nursing a groin injury, Irfan Pathan has a side strain, Sreesanth has a shoulder injury and his opening pace partner Zaheer Khan is recovering from a ankle injury--nodoubt the Indian team pace attack has lost its teeth.
BCCI's signs of helplessness doesn't go well with its infamous intimadating image which has so far dimished all other boards in innumerable occasions. So, as the BCCI continues to show its helplessness and accuse the players, the ICC and the ACC for all the wrong, one would like to doubt if it was a lack of committment towards its own players that is stopping the cricketing czars from taking up the issue with the ICC rather then the committment towards the ICC schedule which they want us to believe.
