Hallelujah - Struggling Pujara gets BCCI nod to play county cricket

[Sachinism]

Cheteshwar Pujara, who was among the top-order batsmen who failed to click in the five-Test series against England that India lost 1-3, has been granted permission to play in the remainder of the English county season. "Pujara is not part of the ODI or T20 team now and is free to play. He sought my permission to play in county cricket and I have asked him to send me the details. I have decided to allow him to play," BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said from Vadodara. "We have never said no to any player to play in county cricket if it does not clash with our domestic cricket, like Ranji Trophy etc. :hysterical: If you remember, we had allowed Gautam Gambhir to play in the English country cricket (in 2013 for Essex)," he added. Pujara, considered a Test specialist, and Virat Kohli were expected to be the bulwarks of the young Indian batting line-up, but failed to live up to reputation in England, where conditions were conducive to swing bowling. As a result, the team suffered three massive defeats - two of them by an innings – squandering the 1-0 lead taken at Lord's, which hosted the second Test. Pujara (26) tallied 222 runs in 10 innings, with 55 as his highest score, for a poor average of 22.20 in the series in which India were beaten inside three days in the last two Tests - losing both by an innings. Asked about changes in the team’s support staff for the five-match ODI series against England, commencing next week, Patel said, "Something had to be done. It's not as if our boys are poor players. "We were discussing things over the last two weeks and yesterday I had a discussion with the (BCCI) president, treasurer and joint-secretary before deciding on the best course of action -- to appoint Ravi Shastri as the team's director," said Patel. "We were all very concerned. The team's performance was disturbing. I first spoke to Shastri, then to the captain (Mahendra Singh Dhoni), the coach (Duncan Fletcher) and the two others (bowling coach Joe Dawes and fielding coach Trevor Penney) and informed them about our decision," Patel added. The Board put Shastri in charge of the team's affairs during the one-day series while retaining Fletcher as chief coach and also asked the two assistant coaches to take a break for the five ODI, the first of which is on August 25 at Bristol, after a warm-up game on August 22 at Lord's. "As Director, it's up to Shastri what to do and what not to do," Patel maintained. “In culmination of the discussions among all the office-bearers of the BCCI over the last couple of weeks, the BCCI has decided to avail the services of former India captain, Mr Ravi Shastri, to oversee and guide the Indian cricket team for the forthcoming one-day international matches against England," a statement from the BCCI earlier on Tuesday said. “Mr. Duncan Fletcher will continue as Head Coach while Ravi Shastri will be the overall in-charge of Cricket affairs of the Indian Team." The support staff will have a more Indian look, with Kings XI Punjab chief coach Sanjay Bangar, India U-19 coach Bharath Arun and colts fielding coach R Sridhar being roped in place of Dawes and Penney. Asked about Shastri's tenure as Team India director, Patel said it will be "till the end of the series (which will go on till first week of September)." "We will then have the reports of the captain, coach, manager and Shastri to discuss and then BCCI will decide on the future," he added. http://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/england-tour-struggling-pujara-gets-bcci-nod-to-play-county-cricket/20140819.htm

[G_B_]

i think this shows and rubbishes the myth that the Indian players dont care. It might be wise for Rahane and Kohli to join Che. These are meaningless ODIs.

[Austin 3:!6]

Fantastic news. Sehwag must do the same rather than just sitting at home and eating Biryani

[Laaloo]

Fantastic news. Sehwag must do the same rather than just sitting at home and eating Biryani

How do you know he eats biryani at home? He could be eating something else too.

[vvvslaxman]

How do you know he eats biryani at home? He could be eating something else too.

:hysterical::hysterical: That made me ROFLing

[undisputed chap]

Vijay, ishant, shami, rahane ko bhi khelne do please

[Roshanrocks]

This like ..locking the jail door after the thieves have escaped through the window... Better than county..go play in Australia... Study those pitches..english test series khatam ho gaye hai ullu ke pattey!

[Pagalpanti]

A shame that it took them this long to realize it. Nevertheless, more youngsters should be encouraged to be part of county.

[Old guy]

This like ..locking the jail door after the thieves have escaped through the window... Better than county..go play in Australia... Study those pitches..test series khatam ho gaye hai ullu ke pattey!

he struggled in these conditions so let him get confidence back as this is not his last series in england and in future this experience is gonna be handy

[G_B_]

This like ..locking the jail door after the thieves have escaped through the window... Better than county..go play in Australia... Study those pitches..english test series khatam ho gaye hai ullu ke pattey!

and when is he going to play there? The aussie domestic season starts in october when India are playing WI

[Roshanrocks]

he struggled in these conditions so let him get confidence back as this is not his last series in england and in future this experience is gonna be handy

Chalo theek hai..kuch toh akal aai BCCI ko...paisa sab kuch nehi hota..izzat bhi honi chahiye!

[Roshanrocks]

and when is he going to play there? The aussie domestic season starts in october when India are playing WI

OH! After reading the McGrath article I thought we r going to Australia next...oops sorry! :giggle:

[adi B]

i think this shows and rubbishes the myth that the Indian players dont care. It might be wise for Rahane and Kohli to join Che. These are meaningless ODIs.

I really think that guys like rahane,Pujara,kohli,Vijay do care about test cricket especially with great role models of the previous generation.its Better if these guys do spend time in county cricket than play these meaningless bilateral with England,Windies etc. We have New guys Like Naman,sanju,rayudu,,mohit etc who can gain valuable experience and exposure by playing these odis..hope our bowlers like Yadav,bhuvi too play a couple of seasons in the county following zak's footsteps

[Austin 3:!6]

How do you know he eats biryani at home? He could be eating something else too.

His tummy :dontknow:

[undisputed chap]

Hope some good county picks him up & he plays a lot of quality time there:pray:

[G_B_]

I really think that guys like rahane,Pujara,kohli,Vijay do care about test cricket especially with great role models of the previous generation.its Better if these guys do spend time in county cricket than play these meaningless bilateral with England,Windies etc. We have New guys Like Naman,sanju,rayudu,,mohit etc who can gain valuable experience and exposure by playing these odis..hope our bowlers like Yadav,bhuvi too play a couple of seasons in the county following zak's footsteps

agree truth is i am not 100% sure Rahane will be an ODI player. He cant seem to shift in modes. Might be wise for the BCCI to make a call and tell him to stick to test cricket. An aerna where India badly needs good players. I dont think the ODI side will miss the likes of Che or Rahane.

[undisputed chap]

agree truth is i am not 100% sure Rahane will be an ODI player. He cant seem to shift in modes. Might be wise for the BCCI to make a call and tell him to stick to test cricket. An aerna where India badly needs good players. I dont think the ODI side will miss the likes of Che or Rahane.

Don't forget ishant too. He has improved a bit. A county stint won't hurt him. Vijay can also do with some experience.

[Old guy]

Chalo theek hai..kuch toh akal aai BCCI ko...paisa sab kuch nehi hota..izzat bhi honi chahiye!

there was never question about priorities of guy like pujara this was expected ...i will talk about ijjat when they push ipl super stars to play this :winky:

[vijay50]

Fantastic news. Sehwag must do the same rather than just sitting at home and eating Biryani

And that darter harbhajan singh also should play county cricket instead of dancing in reality shows and eating chicken korma.

[G_B_]

Don't forget ishant too. He has improved a bit. A county stint won't hurt him. Vijay can also do with some experience.

any player who is not part of the ODI side should be released for the counties. Vijay, Che, Ishant, Punkaj, etc etc. The big question is will the counties bite?