Gavaskar questions need for India ‘A’ to be in NZ

The former India captain also pointed out thatthis is never the case when the Indian Premier League (IPL) is on.

“Burnout is a word that was bandied about quite a lot at the start of the century but as soon as the IPL took off nobody, especially the so-called protector of cricketers rights FICA (Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations) has uttered the word again. That the national championship doesn’t mean much hasbeen clear for a few years now that the IPL is here and it has been emphasized once again by the way the Ranji Trophy has been devalued with the best talent out of the country,” Gavaskar wrote in his column.

“One can understand the national team being out as it’s a bilateral commitment in line with the ICC FTP but to have the India A team also out touring at the same time means that most Ranji Trophy teams are well below strength,” wrote Gavaskar.

Gavaskar added that with the U-19 World Cup also underway in South Africa, the Ranji teams are deprived of their promising players also as they strive to make it to the knockouts.

“There is the ICC under-19 World Cup going on too, so a host of promising youngsters who bring in excitement and fresh energy and outlook are not playing the national championshipat a time when their state teams need them to qualify for the knockouts.

“The argument that having an ‘A’ team touring the country where the national team is playing makes it easy for any replacements who will be ready and acclimatised if needed by injury to the senior team, is a specious argument,” added Gavaskar.

He gave the example of other teams notdoing the same, adding why no teams are sent abroad during the IPL.