Former Indian all-rounder and Baroda captain Irfan Pathan has come out in support of bereaved Baroda and Kings XI Punjab all-rounder Deepak Hooda after the latter had left the Baroda Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy team camp following altercations with skipper Krunal Pandya.
Pathan, 36, wanted the cricket association to treat a player of Hooda’s caliber well, especially at the time of the pandemic, when the mental health of players is very important. “During the difficult times of this pandemic wherein mental health of a player is of utmost importance as they have to stay in a bio-bubble as well as keep themselves focused on the game, such incidents may have adverse effects on a player and should be avoided,” said Pathan in a statement that he posted on his Twitter account.
The Baroda-born who represented India in 173 internationals including 120 ODIs, 29 Tests, and 24 T20Is further requested the association to look into the matter extensively. “Requesting all the members of the BCA to look into this and condemn such actions since they are not good for the game of cricket,” said Pathan.
The junior Pathan also pointed out the inconsistencies of BCA in dealing with the talent prospects saying, “In the recent past, there have been episodes wherein the deserving young talents who have performed well and are under the age of 30 have been overlooked for selection.”
“Also, the likes of Aditya Waghmode, who was the highest run-scorer for the Baroda team in the last season of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scoring 364 runs and Swapnil Singh, who had all-round performance, scoring 216 runs and took 10 wickets, were overlooked,” he added.
Pathan, who was Man of the Match in the 2007 T20 World Cup Final and who has taken 301 international wickets, hitting out at the BCA Chief Executive Officer, who had hinted at taking harsh disciplinary action against Hooda, said, “If what I have heard about the Deepak Hooda episode is true, it is indeed shocking and disheartening. No player should be treated like this.”
Baroda in their SMA campaign have got two wins from two games and look like a formidable unit.
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