Ravi Shastri says ‘player being threatened’ is shocking; Harbhajan Singh wants Wriddhiman Saha to name ‘respected journalist’ in screenshot

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, February 21

Former India coach Ravi Shastri, like others, has reacted to the controversy of wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha being threatened by a journo.

Also read: Not hurt by Wriddhi’s comments, he deserved honesty and clarity about his position: Rahul Dravid

Shastri asked BCCI president Sourav Ganguly to look into the matter.

“Shocking a player being threatened by a journo. Blatant position abuse. Something that’s happening too frequently with #TeamIndia. Time for the BCCI PREZ to dive in. Find out who the person is in the interest of every cricketer. This is serious coming from ultimate team man WS,” Shastri tweeted on Sunday night.

Shocking a player being threatened by a journo. Blatant position abuse. Something that’s happening too frequently with #TeamIndia. Time for the BCCI PREZ to dive in. Find out who the person is in the interest of every cricketer. This is serious coming from ultimate team man WS https://t.co/gaRyfYVCrs

— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) February 20, 2022

Earlier, former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Sunday has urged Saha to name the journalist who sent texts to him in the screenshot posted on Twitter.

Singh’s comments came after former opener Virender Sehwag backed Saha and slammed the ‘respected journalist’ in question.

“Wridhi you just name the person so that the cricket community knows who operates like this. Else even the good ones will be put under suspicion.. What kind of journalism is this ? @BCCI @Wriddhipops @JayShah @SGanguly99 @ThakurArunS players should be protected,” wrote Singh on Twitter.

Former India left-arm pacer RP Singh too tweeted in Saha’s favour. “When it is about BCCI or cricketers, we hear so many ‘sources’ from all the journalists. Can a single source tell me who this so called journalist is who has threatened Saha? #cricketwitter,” read his tweet.

Wridhi you just name the person so that the cricket community knows who operates like this. Else even the good ones will be put under suspicion.. What kind of journalism is this ? @BCCI @Wriddhipops @JayShah @SGanguly99 @ThakurArunS players should be protected https://t.co/sIkqtIHsvt

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) February 20, 2022

Previously on Sunday morning, Sehwag quote-tweeted and wrote, “Extremely sad. Such sense of entitlement, neither is he respected nor a journalist, just chamchagiri. With you Wriddhi.” On Saturday evening, Sharing a screenshot of disturbing messages he received from the unnamed journalist shortly after nor finding a spot in the Test squad, Saha wrote on Twitter, “After all of my contributions to Indian cricket..this is what I face from a so called “Respected” journalist! This is where the journalism has gone.” Saha’s tweet came after he was excluded from the Test squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in March alongside Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ishant Sharma. During a virtual press conference, chief selector Chetan Sharma was asked about why Saha was not in the Test squad.

“I can’t tell you on what grounds he has been dropped. That is for the selectors only. All I can tell you is that he was told before and was asked to play the Ranji trophy, which is the ladder for playing international cricket. What we discussed between ourselves (committee members); we can’t tell you that.” Sharma further refused to get into the details of why Saha skipped Bengal’s matches in the ongoing Ranji Trophy due to personal reasons. “The CAB, state cricket association can tell you why because that isn’t my jurisdiction. This selection committee believes that unless you are unfit, under load management or busy with international cricket, you should play in domestic cricket. That is very important. How will we know if you are match-ready?” “If one doesn’t want to play, then the selection committee won’t interfere in state matters. You need to ask Hardik why he isn’t playing in Ranji Trophy. We are looking at the ones who are playing the Ranji Trophy and we get happy in seeing the performers play in Ranji Trophy.” Sharma had brushed aside the fact that age was the reason behind Saha’s exclusion from the Test squad. “We don’t give much importance to age but at one point, the selectors start to think when you get some youngsters outside and want to give them a chance.” “That is why selection committee said that you won’t be considered for two matches. The doors are open for you. If you haven’t played for long, how will we see the skills of you? This is why playing Ranji Trophy gets important for all and I am consistently emphasising on that.” With inputs from agencies

#wriddhimansaha