Gavaskar’s comments are befitting a politician, not a cricketer: BCCI VP – Cricket News Update
The vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has expressed his surprise at the opinions voiced by former Indian skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sunil-Manohar-Gavaskar-c91863, regarding the recently announced bilateral series between Pakistan and India, claiming the critical
comments are not suited to a sportsman.
“He (Gavaskar) looks more like a politician than a cricketer,” http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Niranjan-Rasiklal-Shah-c79664, BCCI vice-president, said while speaking to
Mid-Day.
The BCCI recently announced a short series due to be played against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in December 2012/January 2013. The event is the first bilateral series between the two teams after roughly five years. The Indo-Pak cricketing ties have been on hold since the 2008
terrorist attacks in Mumbai, which strained the diplomatic relations between both countries.
Despite the cessation of bilateral sporting ties between Pakistan and India, both teams continued to play each other in events such as the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World Cup in 2011, and the Asia Cup in March this year.
However, a revival of ties appeared to be on the cards following several high-level meetings between both boards this year, and the BCCI finally announced a short series, comprising 3 ODIs (which will be played in Chennai, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Delhi-c780 and Kolkata) and 2 T20Is
(in Ahmedabad and Bangalore), due to be played during a gap in England’s tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, when the visitors fly home for a Christmas and New Year’s break.
Following the announcement, former players expressed their delight at the resumption of ties, but Gavaskar slammed the BCCI for organising such a series when the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 attack probe was still ongoing.
“Being a Mumbaikar I feel what is the urgency when there is no co-operation from the other side,” he said.
However, his comments have not gone down well with the BCCI.
“... the Board has given him all the respect he deserves as a great. This sort of a comment may hurt relations between the BCCI and Pakistan Cricket Board,” said a board official who wished to remain anonymous.
“When every other cricketer is saying that cricket and politics should stay apart, a prominent voice like Gavaskar should have thought twice before going on record, opposing the BCCI’s move,” he added.
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