MUMBAI: The operations team of the
BCCI, led by general manager
Saba Karim, has been summoned by CEO Rahul Johri in Mumbai on Monday morning to deliberate upon the viability of
Yo-Yo Tests
+ that have been compulsorily conducted for all Team India cricketers over the last one year.
In a one-line e-mail on Sunday, Johri has asked the operations team to draft a response to BCCI treasurer
Anirudh Chaudhry's email to CoA
+ . The CoA's call for an explanation comes at a time when Chaudhry has written a lengthy email to the
CoA asking the latter to explain the exact parameters by which Yo-Yo Tests have been held.
The meeting also comes in the backdrop of the BCCI-appointed
Committee of Administrators (CoA) question the operations team of the board and asking them to explain why Yo-Yo Tests alone should be the only benchmark for fitness of cricketers. However, the entire clash between CoA and members of the BCCI - one that seems to be never-ending and bordering on the petty - refuses to take into account what the team management deems fit where cricket alone is concerned.
The Indian team management told TOI, " Individuals who have nothing to do with cricket are busy interfering in team affairs. Saba Karim is not telling the entire truth. His remit is to stick to domestic cricket and women's cricket, not the Indian men's team. Instead, Karim is busy leaking stories to the media about what happens in the dressing room. For starters, he needs to confirm if his KRA (job profile) involves interfering in Team India affairs?"
Karim, as GM-Operations is learnt to be busy drafting his opinion, one that the Team management says is "not needed." Team India sources categorically say all the "tamasha" (ruckus) over Yo-Yo is might disappointing.
The Team India management says, "The idea of Yo-Yo tests is not an overnight thing. It's been designed keeping all relevant officials in the loop. It's not a one-off either. If there are ideas from former cricketers to improve upon it, then fine. But why politicize the whole thing? If there are any questions that need to be asked, let them be with skipper
Virat Kohli. Why play politics when the team is not here and is away on an important tour?"
