Good form, bad form, uninformed

Yuvraj Singh answered a few questions today with his typically belligerent century in the final of the Duleep Trophy, which began at the PCA...

Yuvraj Singh answered a few questions today with his typically belligerent century in the final of the Duleep Trophy, which began at the PCA Stadium here today. However, there was one crucial question left unanswered 8212; who is accountable for a player8217;s fitness? And, the corrollary, why is the BCCI so apparently lax 8212; and secretive 8212; when it comes to players8217; injuries?

While the dashing batsman, a key member of India8217;s one-day side that plays Pakistan in a week8217;s time, ended all speculation and suspense about his form, his claim that he played despite a stiff shoulder as the selectors told him to do so has brought into light 8212; yet again, after the Harbhajan fiasco 8212; the BCCI8217;s mysterious ways of handling injured players.

See the contradictions in the story: Yuvraj had pulled out of the previous North Zone match, citing a stiff shoulder. He then went to Mumbai for a commercial shoot, was spotted partying.

While in Mumbai, he didn8217;t see fit to 8212; and, crucially, wasn8217;t asked to 8212;consult BCCI physician Dr Anant Joshi. He was then unofficially ordered to play the Duleep final; he says he told the selectors his shoulder was still stiff but was overruled.

So was he fit or unfit then, and is he fit or unfit now? If he was unfit then, has his shoulder 8212; still not checked by the BCCI8217;s physician 8212; worsened? And if he was fit then, will he be disciplined for missing a premier domestic match? And crucially, if he8217;s unfit, will he be dropped when in this cracking form?

What defies logic is the fact that the player is under no official medical supervision and also runs the risk of aggravating the injury ahead of the big battle against Pakistan.

The selectors, for their part, have been exceedingly mysterious when all it needed was a clear statement that Yuvraj, like Nehra, must play the match to prove his fitness. Or a strong statement now from the BCCI rapping him for breach of discipline.

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Interestingly, all the selectors, except Kirti Azad 8212; selector for the North Zone 8212; were present at the venue.

While West Zone selector Kiran More said all queries be directed to Azad 8212; who is campaigning in Darbhanga, Bihar 8212; chairman of the selection committee Syed Kirmani had an interesting answer 8211; I don8217;t know what is happening. Ask the administrators.8217;8217;

BCCI secretary SK Nair explained the procedure followed by an unfit player: 8216;8216;He has to follow the rehabilitation process under the supervision of a doctor or physiotherapist. But he finally has to get himself checked by the Board8217;s doctor Anant Joshi and also team physio Andrew Leipus. Unless cleared by these two, he cannot represent the country. The Board will take the procedure into account.8217;8217;

Nair, however, refuses to speak specifically on Yuvraj8217;s case. 8216;8216;You should ask the player or the national selectors,8217;8217; is all what Nair has to offer.