The newly appointed Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Roger Binny highlighted the urgent need to address the issue of Indian players getting injured frequently. He believes the team can’t afford to have its star players getting injured just days before any ICC tournament.
Just days before departing for Australia for the T20 World Cup 2022, Team India suffered a major blow when their star bowler Jasprit Bumrah was forced to withdraw due to a back ailment.
Burmah's injury occurred only a few weeks after all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja injured his knee during the Asia Cup last month.
The issue of players getting injured has been present in Indian cricket for the last four to five years, and Binny agreed that it needs to be dealt with as soon as possible.
"We need to address why and how are players are getting injured so badly. We need to address why they are breaking down so easily. Not just now but also in the last four-five years," he said at a felicitation ceremony organized by Karnataka State Cricket Association.
"It is not that we don't have good trainers or coaches. Whether the load is too much, or whether they are playing too many formats, something needs to be done. That is my priority. You can't have a Bumrah breaking down 10 days before the World Cup and then who is going to replace him? It is important (to address it)," he added.
India needs better pitches, according to the former cricketer-turned-administrator, to prevent injury to fast bowlers. Additionally, he addressed the growing concern over new central contracts for domestic cricketers vying for spots on India's national squad.
He signed off by saying: "The pitches are still too docile, they are unfit for the fast bowlers. We also need to look at infrastructure. 30-40 thousand fans come to stadiums (for India games), they need to be comfortable. The domestic players are looked after very well. They have got good facilities and they stay in good places. I don't think there is any need for that at the moment (contracts).”
(PTI INPUTS)
