Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)  on Monday announced squads for the Duleep Trophy and quadrangular series involving India A and B teams for their upcoming four-day game against South Africa ‘A’ and Australia 'A'. 

In the process of doing so, BCCI has goofed up by naming suspended wicket-keeper Abhishek Gupta in one of the squads for the upcoming Duleep Trophy. Gupta is currently serving an eight-month ban for doping violation but was initially named in the India Red team, according to a media release sent earlier on Monday.

However, on knowing the development, the BCCI replaced him with  Vidarbha wicket-keeper Akshay Wadkar. The BCCI had charged Gupta for committing a doping violation during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in an official press release on June 7 and was suspended for eight months with effect from January 15, the day he was tested.

“It was brought to notice by the BCCI Anti-Doping team that Mr. Abhishek Gupta who was initially added in the India Red squad is serving an 8-month ban for a doping violation. His ban is set to end on the 14th of September, 2018. The senior selection committee has reached a consensus that Mr. Akshay Wadkar will be included in the India Red team as Mr. Gupta’s replacement,” said the release sent later on Monday.

Gupta was suspended for the ‘inadvertent ingestion’ of Terbutaline that is commonly found in cough syrups. Gupta admitted to the charges, saying he had inadvertently taken it following his doctor’s prescription to treat an upper respiratory tract infection.

When questioned regarding the same, Gupta sounded confused. “The ban expires on September 14. I have not got any official email or phone call from the BCCI on my selection in the India Red team for Duleep Trophy yet. When and if I do, then I will inquire about the status of my selection. I am also a bit confused at the moment,” said Gupta. 

(Inputs from Hindustan Times)