Indian board must back players

Indian players are unhappy at a clause that requires them to detail their whereabouts for an hour every day for the next three months to allow random drug testing. And its an issue that has created a buzz in the Indian media. Writing in the Hindustan Times, Pradeep Magazine believes players already have enough on their plates to now be subjected to one more assault, this time on their right to privacy.

Since the International Cricket Council is now a signatory to the WADA rules, it cannot escape by giving this somewhat naïve reasoning to escape the edict. What it could possibly have done is protested and told WADA that it can't force cricketers to be available, even if it is for one hour of the day, for these tests. Since cricket is not immune to protests and where adjusting powerful lobbies even at the expense of breaking rules is not uncommon, this draconian rule can be challenged by a cricketing body even at the peril of being sanctioned by the world Olympic body.