BCCI take step in right direction but will players co-operate?

When the BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele announced the teams for the Challenger Trophy, he said it was mandatory for all the selected players to take part in the tournament unless they were able to prove they were unfit. Despite the announcement, some players have not taken it seriously and have opted out of the competition. This is an indication of their attitude towards the domestic game, for some cricketers did not play even in the first round of matches in the Ranji Trophy Super League.

Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar and vice captain Saurav Ganguly said they needed a break and opted out. Tendulkar in fact dropped out from the Mumbai side to play Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy. Javagal Srinath pulled out of both the Challenger Trophy and the Ranji Trophy due to stress in the hip.

Tendulkar said he needed some rest. But the Challenger Trophy tournament surely would have given him the opportunity to see the cream of the Indian talent at one go. He could have seen the youngsters in action and handpicked some of these players for the coming series against South Africa and the near future. It is a missed opportunity for the Indian captain who has an important role in the process of team selection.

Tendulkar and Agarkar asked the Mumbai Cricket Association to excuse them from the match against Karnataka complaining of tiredness. Karnataka, the Ranji Trophy champions, with their star performers resting, were thoroughly beaten in an important game against Mumbai in the Super League. The result of the game could have been different had Kumble, Srinath, Dravid and Prasad played. If Karnataka do not make it past the Super League, will these players be blamed for their absence in such a crucial tie? With the stars not taking part, crowds are dwindling for this premier national tournament.

Earlier, players like Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and other stars, inspite of representing the country, seldom missed a domestic match. Neither did one hear them complain nor make an excuse. They had pride in representing and playing for their state. Sadly the same is not seen these days.

In countries like Australia and England, top players like Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Alec Stewart and Nasser Hussain do not miss an opportunity to play for their respective counties or states.

The BCCI has taken a step in the right direction in making it mandatory for players to take part in the Challenger Trophy. One only hopes that this decision is strictly enforced for other important tournaments too. This way, it will be good for both players and the public.