National Cricket Academy (NCA), Bangalore
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Reputation
2019: A cricketers’ nightmare?
K.Shriniwas Rao, Nov 9, 2019: The Times of India
The new set of office-bearers at BCCI has a grave concern to address. They need to ask the cricketers of all national teams in the country – senior men’s, India ‘A’ and India Under-19 – if they’re comfortable going to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore for regular rehabs, fitness assessments, physiotherapy and more.
The answer, at least with a massive majority, will be a categorical “no”. And the more the BCCI begins to look into the matter, it will realise that all has not been well with what is supposed to be Indian cricket’s most valuable institution and arguably its fundamental preparatory school. “It is a very important subject at this moment. Some shocking revelations are coming out. It needs to be looked into with immediate effect. We will request the president (Sourav Ganguly) to make this a top priority,” individuals involved in the matter told TOI.
It is understood that senior office-bearers in the BCCI were apprised of the scenario this week. “We will sit down with Sourav and discuss this. If a player is refusing to go to NCA, whatever be the reason, it is not correct. Something is very wrong. This matter will certainly be brought up,” sources say. The revelations are shocking to the effect that some very senior Team India cricketers have been shying away from the NCA in recent months, and that too with an alarming degree of dread and apprehension.
“Players either want to stick with their respective national team support staff (physios & trainers) or consult their own choice of specialists privately as and when required or depend on their Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises to cater to these very basic needs. All said, they just don’t want to go to Bangalore,” sources add.
A senior Team India cricketer, who has been on a break from the Indian team, undergoing rehab, is learnt to have sent NCA director Rahul Dravid an SOS recently, appraising him of the situation. Three more Team India cricketers – TOI is aware of – categorically refused to go to Bangalore in the last one year despite being asked to undergo rehab and have made no bones about the fact that they do not trust the facility at all.
Dravid’s presence at the NCA has been relatively new, riddled with all kinds of confusion surrounding conflict and those in the know say even the former No.3 hasn’t been able to wrap things around his head yet. However, now with Ganguly at the helm and Dravid settling down at the academy, players expect that this will be taken in all seriousness.
“Someone should sit down with Washington Sundar and ask him what he went through last year. Wriddhiman Saha’s entire medical history was put on the BCCI website some time ago but what really happened with him? The BCCI officials should speak with the Pandya brothers, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar – ask them what they feel about the NCA. These players are India’s prized assets. They need to be wrapped in cotton wool,” say those in the know.
The entire episode surrounding Prithvi Shaw’s dope test and his eventual suspension is still matter that hasn’t been elaborately explained yet. TOI had gone about enquiring with the Mumbai team’s coach, physiotherapist and fitness trainers if they had any idea of Shaw consuming the cough syrup last season, during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
