The Centre of Excellence remains the biggest talking point as injuries mount for Team India. Sai Sudharsan and Jasprit Bumrah are the latest additions to the ever-growing list, and the situation has gotten so bad that the BCCI secretary, Devajit Saikia, and Head of Cricket, VVS Laxman, were forced to address the media and explain the functioning of the CoE in Bengaluru. On Sunday, the former Indian batter Laxman admitted that the Indian board and CoE have found it tough to replace Nitin Patel as the new Sports Science and Medicine Head.
Ever since Patel stepped down, the post has remained vacant, and Laxman revealed that multiple candidates backed out at the last minute after initially agreeing to the job.
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has now weighed in on the issue, calling out the BCCI for "taking injuries lightly" and urging the experts to do the needful and nip the problem in the bud.
“There was a statement from VVS Laxman that they had approached several people. Those things were being worked out, but at the last minute, they turned it down. So, what I am trying to say is that whatever is happening needs to be fixed. I am not an expert on this. The experts appointed by the BCCI need to do their job. But I am telling you that it is having a significant impact," Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
“Now, I am surprised because so many people are eager to work with the BCCI. We have so much money that if we call someone, they will come running. They do, don’t they? Just look at the players. Players leave their countries’ matches to come and play in the IPL. They come, don’t they? So, I was a little surprised that we haven’t been able to work things out with some of the world’s best physiotherapists and medical professionals and get them to work with the BCCI. I am surprised because we pay so much. We offer such good contracts. If someone comes and works here, they are bound to make a lot of money. They get paid very well," he added.
'Work on it'
{{/usCountry}}“Now, I am surprised because so many people are eager to work with the BCCI. We have so much money that if we call someone, they will come running. They do, don’t they? Just look at the players. Players leave their countries’ matches to come and play in the IPL. They come, don’t they? So, I was a little surprised that we haven’t been able to work things out with some of the world’s best physiotherapists and medical professionals and get them to work with the BCCI. I am surprised because we pay so much. We offer such good contracts. If someone comes and works here, they are bound to make a lot of money. They get paid very well," he added.
'Work on it'
{{/usCountry}}Citing the example of Bumrah, who missed the third ODI against England and will now also miss the Tests against Sri Lanka, Kaif said there is an urgent need for the authorities to recognise the problem of rising injuries and their impact on Indian cricket.
“We are taking injuries too lightly. Bumrah didn’t play at Lord’s, and we conceded 387 runs. That was a crucial ODI. The series was tied at 1-1, it was the third and deciding match, and we conceded 387. So I feel this needs to be worked on. Everyone involved needs to sit down, put their full energy and focus into it, and find a solution," said Kaif.
Earlier, Laxman had revealed that Andrew Leipus was set to replace Nitin Patel as the SSM head, but at the last moment, the scenario changed.
“After Nitin left, we did not get anyone who could fill in that position. We had Andrew Leipus. Everything was agreed upon; in fact, Devajit had two or three meetings with him, but suddenly Andrew backed off at the last moment, citing family reasons. We conducted a full-fledged interview process with Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, Dr Ashish Soni, Dr Rohan Khavte, and me. We shortlisted five candidates, and the number one was an Australian. After selecting him, suddenly he backed out, saying he cannot move to Bengaluru," Laxman told reporters on Sunday.