Wriddhiman Saha fracas questions system at NCA

CHENNAI: The BCCI and the National Cricket Academy’s handling of Wriddhiman Saha’s injuries has raised questions over the process that resulted in none of the selectors and the team management being kept in the loop. Express understands that the selectors and acting BCCI secretary Amit­abh Choudhary were kept in the dark about his shoulder inju­ry when they sat down to pick the squad on Wednesday.  Saha is no­w sidelined for at least three mo­nths and has been told not to bat for the next two months.

Though the BCCI in the recent past was as a policy making announcements on injury updates, the last information that was made public regarding Saha’s injury status was in June. That statement revealed he had injured his right thumb while playing for his IPL side Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens and the recovery period would be around five to six weeks. Saha eventually reported to the NCA in Bengaluru for the rehabilitation process.

However, things seem to have changed then on. According to the team management, Saha seems to have hurt his shoulder in Centurion, although a hamstr­ing injury on the eve of the Test ruled him out of the series. It is understood that Saha played the IPL with a shoulder niggle and aggravated it during rehabilitation.

“Before the Afghanistan Test, it came to light he has a minor niggle and it was decided that he would be given adequate rest keeping in mind the England tour. But since then, there was no communication from those at the NCA. The board, selectors and the team management were told Saha would need five to six weeks to get completely fit,” a board official told Express.

That even the selectors were not informed of Saha’s shoulder injury does come as a surprise. MSK Prasad, the chairman of selectors, has gone on record saying the stumper has been ru­led out of England tour beca­use of a thumb injury. “Saha’s re­c­overy from a fractured right th­u­mb hasn’t been satisfactory. He ha­sn’t responded well enough to the rehab at the NCA. At this moment, Saha is uncertain for all fi­ve Tests, not just the first three,” he said.

It has come to light that only after the selectors named the squad, they were informed about Saha’s shoulder injury. He will now be monitored by the BCCI’s medical team and only after a week’s assessment it would be decided whether he needs to go under the knife or not.