Former West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin opened up on her mysterious absence from the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023.
Dottin was roped in by Adani Sportsline-owned Gujarat Giants for INR 60 lakh at the inaugural WPL auction last month, but was replaced in the squad by Australian all-rounder Kim Garth on the eve of their first match against Mumbai Indians.
While media reported that Dottin was “recovering from a medical situation”, she posted a tweet suggesting that she was feeling fine and ‘recovering from nothing’.
After suffering a 143-run thrashing at the hands of Mumbai Indians in their opening fixture, Gujarat Giants issued a statement that said they could not ‘obtain a medical clearance for Dottin before the defined deadline’.
On Monday (March 20), Dottin released a statement on Twitter, explaining the reasons behind her exclusion from WPL 2023.
“I wish to issue a brief statement in light of ongoing speculation surrounding my recent exclusion from the inaugural Women’s Premier League (“WPL”) that is currently taking place in India.”
“I remain deeply disappointed by what can only, plausibly, be described as bewildering reasoning for my omission from the tournament. As was widely publicised, I was bought at the WPL auction by the Gujarat Giants, a franchise owned and operated by the Adani Group. At the commencement of the tournament, the franchise claimed that I was excluded from the team because I was apparently “recovering from a medical situation”. This was followed by a subsequent, clarifying statement that contended that I was, infact “unable to obtain medical clearance” despite being granted as recently as February 20th,” she said.
Dottin mentioned that she experienced abdominal pain along with swelling and was asked by medical experts, after tests, to rest until February 13. She added that experts told her to resume training from February 14.
“I would like to make it clear that I had experienced minor abdominal pain and swelling for which I had sought treatment in December 2022. This was followed by two further referrals to specialists for second opinions in December and January 2023, respectively. Following testing and investigations by the specialists, I was asked to rest until February 13th and was cleared to resume fitness and playing activity from February 14th. Consequently, I recommenced my personal training and fitness regime according to the guided timelines and experienced some soreness on the first day of resumed training which was anticipated and reasonable, given that I had been asked to rest in the weeks preceding training.
“I was transparent about this in correspondence with the Gujarat Giants physiotherapist, however, this was misconstrued and later conveyed to members of the franchise’s management team as me “experiencing abdominal pain post-session” which was not what I had indicated. The franchise, subsequently, insisted that I get myself assessed locally in Canada, where I am currently based, despite medical clearance being granted as recently as February 20th by my treating surgeon, Dr lan Lewis, a copy of which had been presented to Giants,” she added.
Deandra Dottin recalled the episode when she was asked to submit a fitness report with the latest scans despite having already submitted a report of medical clearance.
“To my shock, I was then forwarded email correspondence from the Giants’ physiotherapist, that included the following demand “Deandra Dottin is strictly advised to submit her fitness report along with the recent scan by 26/02/2023. She will be deemed unfit for T20 matches in the WPL if she doesn’t comply.”
“This request was sent on Saturday 25th February with the deadline provided being the following day – Sunday – making it near impossible to administer all stipulated medical tests, particularly over a weekend,” she said.
The cricketer then recounted the moment when she was informed by GG management that the franchise would be replacing her in the squad.
“On Sunday, 26th February, I received another email from a senior manager at Adani Sportsline (the sports arm of Adani Group) which stated that I was considered an integral part of the team and that I “hold a solid role to play”, however, they would require me to produce the new scan and reports by March 1st. Whilst I was trying my utmost to arrange an expedited CT scan in accordance with the various deadlines I was being served, I received yet another email the following day (Monday, 27th February), this time from the Head of Adani Sportsline, stating that they were unable to find me a timely appointment at a private hospital from their end and that they would, thus, formally be seeking to replace me in the League,” she said.
Dottin further stated that other players were not needed to obtain medical clearance to participate in WPL 2023.
“The Giants’ second public statement regarding my exclusion – published on March 5th – specifically stated the following: “unfortunately, we were unable to obtain a medical clearance before the defined deadline for this season, such clearances are a requirement of all players participating in the WL”. To the best of my knowledge, other players had not been requested to partake in medical testing nor require medical clearance as a requisite to participating in the tournament,” she wrote.
In the end, Dottin wondered why repeated medical testing was required despite obtaining clearance from multiple surgeons.
“Furthermore, I am bewildered as to why, having been cleared to resume training by multiple surgeons, it was insisted upon by the franchise that I repeat medical testing and produce medical clearance that had already been provided.”
“At the very least, I hope the above account of events that transpired – those which are also backed by documented correspondence – shall put to rest ongoing speculation and offer my fans, the media and stakeholders an accurate personal insight into my unfortunate exclusion from the maiden Women’s Premier League,” she concluded.
