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Journalism of Courage
The unceremonious ouster of former captain Rahul Dravid from India8217;s one-day team continued to evoke sharp criticism with two former players slamming Chief Selector Dilip Vengsarkar and demanding BCCI Chief Sharad Pawar8217;s intervention into the matter.
Sandeep Patil and Sanjay Manjrekar, the two former cricketers, said Dravid got a raw deal from the selectors who showed scant respect for his contribution to the game.
8220;I had earlier supported the idea that Sharad Pawar, as BCCI president, should not interfere in selection matters. I would revise my decision now and recall how once NKP Salve, as then BCCI president, had intervened and influenced the selectors to include Sunil Gavaskar after he had been dropped,8221; Patil said.
Patil said the latest development was perhaps linked with why Dravid relinquished the captaincy without giving any reasons after a successful England tour and looked out of sorts during the recent ODI series against Australia.
8220;The National selectors have played a 8216;planned game8217;. The manner in which they have dumped a devoted cricketer like Rahul Dravid only reflects the degeneration that has come to dominate Indian cricket on and off the field,8221; Patil said.
8220;I feel very sad at the treatment given to Rahul. Captain of the team a few months ago, he relinquished the responsibility for reasons he has not disclosed but it is not difficult to understand the game now,8221; he was quoted as saying by 8216;cricketnext8217;.
