Shreyas Iyer and Shivam Dube have come under the scanner for missing Mumbai's Ranji Trophy clash against the Railways, which started on December 25 – a couple of days after the third and final ODI between India and West Indies in Cuttack.
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Although both the cricketers are part of India’s upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka starting January 5, the Ranji game was supposed to end on December 28 itself.
The scrutiny intensified on Friday (December 27) after Mumbai coped an embarrassing 10-wicket defeat inside three days.
Former Mumbai cricketers were furious with Iyer and Dube for skipping the match despite being free from the international assignment.
"Mumbai team ni mast dabba ghatla (Mumbai team put out a very poor show. Very poor from the team. Disappointed to see @ ShreyasIyer15 & @IamShivam-Dube not being a part of the Mumbai set up for this game when the international game is 5 days away. Would like to see the best team playing when possible. #RanjiTrophy," ex-India batsman Vinod Kambli tweeted.
"Why are @ShreyasIyer15 #shivamdube not turning up for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy? Have they been asked to rest? @ RaviShastriOfc," former Mumbai opener Shishir Hattangadi wondered.
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is also upset with the duo for not turning up against the Railways.
"It's an unfortunate episode for Mumbai cricket. They told us that they had been 'advised rest' by the BCCI. However, when we checked with the selectors, we were told that there was no such instruction sent out to them from the selectors, at least. So, who asked them to rest? The physio of the Indian or the trainer? Or did they choose to rest themselves and fired from the Board's shoulder? This is something that no one in the MCA, including the selectors, has appreciated. This issue will surely be discussed in the next Apex Council meeting of the association. We may take some sort of action soon," a top MCA official told TOI on Friday.
Another MCA official expressed his disappointment, saying playing in Ranji Trophy isn't a top priority for today’s Mumbai cricketers.
"Eknath Solkar went from the crematorium, after his father had expired, to the Brabourne Stadium and won Mumbai the Ranji final. Sudhakar Adhikari got married at 9.03 am and then rushed to Brabourne stadium, scored a hundred, and went back to the reception hall in the evening to celebrate with his teammates. Today's youngsters just don't have the same kind of commitment towards Mumbai," he remarked.
(With TOI inputs)
