Board plays cruel joke on pace hope |
|
Thursday December 28, 03:42 AM
It's the ultimate dream of any cricketer in the country_the call to the Indian team. For 18-year-old rookie Delhi pacer Ishant Sharma, it lasted just a few hours.
It turned a nightmare at 5.15pm today when BCCI joint secretary Ratnakar Shetty confirmed the news to Ishant's father, Vijay Kumar Sharma, who had begun celebrating at their home in a narrow west Delhi street. "Ishant's departure to South Africa has been put on hold," the father was told.
The Ranjit Nagar house, teeming with friends and relatives, went into a shell. Just 48 hours back, Sharma Sr was "quietly asked to submit Ishant's passport for visa." This morning, Shetty confirmed to Associated Press that Ishant would go to South Africa.
"Never mind, let these sweets be well in advance for my son eventually will make it to the Indian team. Things like these happen, there must have been some confusion," he said. It was a dream Vijay Kumar Sharma could not realise as a pace bowler who was picked up for a Patiala national camp along with Kapil Dev and Yograj Singh. Sharma, who now runs an air-conditioner business in Ranjit Nagar, was forced to drop out of the game due to parental pressure.
Ishant, a Class XII student at Delhi's Ganga International School, too, was feeling awkward after addressing the media in Rajkot where his team is playing a Ranji match. DDCA Sports secretary Sunil Dev who broke the news of his call had to tell him the bad news this afternoon. But soon Dev and senior players Mitthun Manhas, Amit Bhandari and Rahul Sanghvi gathered in Ishant's room to counsel him. "I'm lucky, the seniors are all there with me to help. I am okay and I am not going to think about it any further. I want to forget it like a bad dream," Ishant told The Indian Express.
Dev was fuming. "This is ridiculous. The board has to understand that sentiments are attached with selection to an Indian team. The board has to officially ascertain, confirm and then only announce about the replacements. I had just got all his previous tickets cancelled, booked his new flights, and now all this. Ishant was first asked to go and skip this Ranji match and play under-19 tournament, then his plans were changed and he was allowed to play this game, now this South Africa goof-up."
Here's how it happened:
• On Monday skipper Rahul Dravid announces the decision to send back Irfan Pathan, says categorically that there will be no replacement.
• Tuesday evening, the first buzz of Ishant being called up is quickly scotched by chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar through the team spokesperson.
• Wednesday morning, team spokesperson confirms Ishant's inclusion. Later, Shetty, too, confirms the news.
• Ishant's name is being flashed on channels, with date of departure to South Africa.
• Shetty again backtracks in the afternoon. Says the decision is put on hold.
• Vengsarkar issues a statement on Wednesday evening in Durban: "Initially, Delhi seamer Ishant Sharma was being considered to be drafted into the Indian squad presently in South Africa. This was being done to provide the youngster with necessary international exposure. However, considering his recent Ranji Trophy schedule for Delhi this season, it has been now decided not to have him fly down to Cape Town (before the third Test starting January 2) and instead allow him to concentrate in his domestic first class matches."
And the press release issued in Durban even got his name wrong: it was spelt Ishaan. Team sources say that the team think tank backtracked on the decision as Munaf Patel was confirmed fully fit. They thought Ishant would have to sit out through the match and it would be better for the youngster to play in the next week's Ranji tie. -(with ENS from Durban)
|
More Cricket News
Jacques out with an acheIndia pin their hopes on TendulkarClumsy Board games fail IshantBCCI wants Gloster to come clean on Munaf's injuryDalmiya quits CAB after long inningsDalmiya steps down as CAB president, vows to fight backIndia struggling at 103/3, Prince hits 121Durban Test: India score 103/3Jagmohan Dalmiya resigns as CAB presidentDalmiya resigns from Bengal cricket body
