Sunil Gavaskar defends BCCI's commitment to Test cricket amid criticism
Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has come to the defense of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), amid criticism over its alleged lack of commitment to Test cricket. In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar dismissed the idea that the BCCI prioritizes shorter formats due to the Indian Premier League's (IPL) success. He described this perception as "ridiculous," emphasizing that India plays more than half a dozen Test matches every season, both at home and abroad.
Gavaskar highlights BCCI's efforts in promoting Test cricket
Gavaskar further highlighted the BCCI's efforts in promoting Test cricket. He stated, "Just because the IPL is massively successful doesn't mean BCCI is not interested in promoting Test cricket." This statement was made in response to a narrative being pushed by overseas media, suggesting that the Indian cricket board is neglecting the longer format of the game due to its focus on shorter formats.
Gavaskar criticizes ICC's decision on WTC final venue
The former Indian cricketer also criticized the International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to host the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's next June. He pointed out that this announcement has been made twice before, but whenever it seemed England might not qualify for the final, the venue was changed to either Southampton or The Oval in London. Gavaskar suggested that this decision was influenced by England's recent success in Test matches and their potential to reach the final.
Gavaskar's witty remark on England's journey to Lord's
Gavaskar ended his column with a witty remark aimed at the English cricket team. He quoted Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya Chisti, saying "Dilli (Lord's) abhi bhi door hai," implying that despite their recent successes, the England team still has a long way to go before they can claim victory at Lord's. This statement served as a humorous conclusion to his defense of BCCI and critique of ICC decisions.
