Former Indian paceman Javagal Srinath has recently opened up about his forced short break from the Indian cricket team during the final leg of his international career.
Speaking to Sportskeeda, legendary Indian pacer revealed that the BCCI and national selectors had forcefully imposed a break on him just ahead of the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.
He further revealed that the selectors told me “we’re giving you a break” without having any discussion after India’s tour of West Indies in 2002 and that didn’t go down well with him. BCCI’s move forced Srinath to turn down then captain Sourav Ganguly’s request to travel to England as he didn’t want his “career to be played in the hands of anybody.”
Well, then he played country cricket and then returned for West Indies series at home and traveled to New Zealand and eventually got selected for the 2003 World Cup, where he had an incredible outing with the ball, taking 16 wickets in 11 matches. After the World Cup, the former pacer called time on his career with 236 Test and 315 ODI wickets for India.
Srinath revealed, “I think before the World Cup, we had toured West Indies Without my knowledge, the selectors told me I had to take a break. Generally, we used to have a talk, and then I used to volunteer saying ‘look I need a break’. But this time they just said ‘we’re giving you a break’ and that didn’t go well with me. Obviously, I was a little upset. I didn’t want my career to be played in the hands of anybody.”
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He further recalled, “I missed the England tour. Of course, Sourav Ganguly wanted me to be part of England tour and even called me and said ‘look, you better be part of England tour’. I was upset and told me ‘No, I wouldn’t be’.
On hindsight, I should have agreed to play, because I was already playing in county cricket. Later when things cooled down, I decided to come back. I wanted to play the World Cup. See every World Cup is like a generation and then West Indies came to play in India and I did well there and then we went New Zealand, so that booked my place in World Cup squad.”
Srinath also claimed he could have played for one more year after the 2003 World Cup, but he chose to retire with dignity as he didn’t want to block others’ way.
He signed off, “My strength in India was diminishing and there were hungry fast bowlers. So, I did not want to block their way. I didn’t want to put my career decision in the hand of selectors, that’s why I decided to quit. I was happy. I did not regret anything. It’s always good to walk out with your dignity.”
(With Sportskeeda Inputs)
