BCCI vice-president Niranjan Shah slams Sunil Gavaskar for his 'what is the urgency?' reaction to the resumption of cricket ties with Pakistan
Legendery Sunil Gavaskar’s comment, “being a Mumbaikar, I feel what is the urgency when there has been no co-operation from the other side (Pakistan),” has not gone down well with the mandarins of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Indian cricket board officials were shocked to read the comments made by the former India captain on Monday.
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Sunil Gavaskar. Pic/Shadab Khan
“He (Gavaskar) looks more like a politician than a cricketer,” BCCI vice-president Niranjan Shah told MiD DAY yesterday.
According to Shah, when the Board has made a decision following several rounds of discussion with the Central Government, such a comment from a respected figure like Gavaskar is uncalled for.
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Another BCCI officebearer brought up Gavaskar’s association with the Board in responsible positions for over the years. “Sunny has been part of the Board for quite some time — from an Indian Premier League Governing Council member to the chairman of the Board’s technical committee — and the Board has given him all the respect he deserves as a great. This sort of a comment may hurt relations between the BCCI and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB),” an official, wishing to remain anonymous, said.
“When every other cricketer is saying that cricket and politics should stay apart, a prominent voice like Gavaskar should have thought twice before going on record, opposing the BCCI’s move,” the official felt. The official, however, took a swipe at the former India opener for making the comment that doesn’t go hand in hand with his activities. “If he thinks so much about the political tensions between the two neighbouring countries, would he stay away from television commentary for the matches involving Pakistan?” asked the official.u00a0
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