BCCI is a money driven board, likes to be remain richest, most powerful and most glamorous Cricket Board in the world. In order to maintain this, they are risking team India! Forget all other things, only against one opponent Sri Lanka, BCCI scheduled staggering 18 international matches within mere Six months!
Indian cricketers have been playing non-stop cricket since start of the IPL, followed by ICC Champions Trophy, away tours of West Indies and Sri Lanka and three successive home series against Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka comprising 23 matches (3 Tests, 11 ODIs and 9 T20 Internationals).
India will finish their limited overs matches against Sri Lanka on December 24 (final T20I) before they fly off to South Africa on December 28, with the first Test starting on January 5.
Team India captain Virat Kohli, who has been rested for the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka, only after he demanded it, has openly criticised tight schedule of series, which leaves India with no time whatsoever to prepare for the important series in South Africa.
“Unfortunately we get only two days before we fly to South Africa after this series gets over. So we have no choice but try to be in a game situation and think of what’s coming ahead of us.” While the India skipper did not name the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) directly, his displeasure at the scheduling aims right at the board, which has the final say on how series are finalised.
“Had we got a month off ideally, we would have done a proper preparation in a camp sort of scenario but we have to sort of make do with what we have.” The Indian team will finish their limited overs engagement against the islanders on December 24 (final T20) before they fly off to South Africa on December 27.
The fatigue has become a norm in players is this kind of scenario. Hardik Pandya requested for a rest, even after being selected in the team for the ongoing test series against Sri Lanka. Bhuvneshwar Kumar opted out of the second test to get the time for his marriage.
Time has come for BCCI to think about the players also. As, Virat Kohli himself said : I am a human being after all!
