Vadodara: Baroda vice-captain Deepak Hooda, who walked out of the team just a day ahead of the Syed Mushtaq Ali National T20 tournament, is set to face strict disciplinary action.
The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) management said that initial inquiry revealed that Hooda was at fault and may also de-register him as a player.
Hooda had on Saturday left Reliance Ground in a huff after a verbal altercation with captain Krunal Pandya during the practice session. He even left the hotel and broke the bio-bubble created by the BCCI to keep the players safe amid Covid-19 pandemic.
Hooda has accused Pandya of dada giri (intimidation) and hurling expletives at him during the net practice, which left him "demoralised and depressed.”
“Inquiry into the incident showed that no such unpleasant incident had happened that warranted Hooda to withdraw from the team. By walking out, he showed that he is above the team. The BCA is in support of Pandya and the team management,” said Satyajit Gaekwad, chairman, BCA press and publicity committee.
Gaekwad added that Hooda failed to hold on to his responsibility as the vice-captain and he should have talked with the BCA management first instead of taking such drastic step. “If the BCA de-registers Hooda as a player, he may have difficulty in playing in the IPL as well. The management is very upset due to his behaviour,” a BCA official said.
Hooda played for Kings XI Punjab in last season.
BCA officials said that the team management had decided to do fielding practice during the net session on Saturday.
But Hooda reportedly insisted that he wanted to do batting practice. “Pandya asked him to join the team in fielding session but Hooda refused and it led to some arguments between the duo,” a senior BCA official said.
Hooda then left the ground and later sent an email to the BCA management accusing Pandya of abusing him. Hooda, who has played 46 first-class games for Baroda apart from 123 T20 matches, said in his email that he had permission from the coach to do the practice. He further alleged that Pandya abused him in presence of his team mates and other state teams.
BCA CEO Shishir Hattangadi on Sunday replied to Hooda’s email and said that the cricketer’s act was unpardonable. ‘By walking away from responsibility of vice captaincy and leaving the team because of a difference you have sent out a message that you hold yourself above the team,’ Hattangadi wrote. He further added that he had chatted with Hooda’s IPL franchise and BCCI too will be informed about his misconduct.
“The BCA apex council will take a decision on the action to be taken against Hooda,” Hattangadi told TOI.