Just a few days after the controversy between Deepak Hooda and Krunal Pandya surfaced on the internet, Former India and Baroda player Irfan Pathan has extended his support toward Deepak Hooda if the alleged behaviour by Krunal Pandya towards Hooda turns out to be true.
Deepak Hooda who has withdrawn his name from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, had a heated argument with Krunal Pandya wherein Hooda accused Pandya of threatening him. The argument took place when both Krunal Pandya and Deepak Hooda were practicing at the Reliance Stadium in Vadodara, just a day prior to the start of the tournament.
After which, Deepak Hooda wrote an email to the BCA stating Krunal Pandya abused him and announced that he won’t be taking a part in the tournament this season for Baroda. Despite the incident, it didn’t really have any effect on the team’s performance as Baroda went on to beat Uttarakhand by 5 runs in their opening match where Krunal Pandya played a vital knock of 76 runs off 42 balls.
Such incidents may have adverse effects on a player – Irfan Pathan
Now Irfan Pathan who has been an integral part of the Baroda stateside from 2000 to 2017 wants the Baroda Cricket Association to investigate the matter between Hooda and Pandya. In a Twitter post, Irfan Pathan wrote how such incidents can have adverse effects on a player especially in the difficult pandemic times we’re going through where Mental health should be given utmost importance.
“During the difficult times of this pandemic wherein mental health of a player is of utmost importance as they have to stay in a bio-bubble as well as keep themselves focused on the game, such incidents may have adverse effects on a player and should be avoided.”
Further in the post, he urged the BCA to launch an investigation on the matter between the two players from Baroda and also extended his support to Deepak Hooda if the allegations made by him towards Krunal Pandya turn out to be true since no player deserves to be treated this way.
Irfan Pathan also recalled a few instances involving the Baroda Cricket Association in relation to the current edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Two players, Aditya Waghmode and Swapnil Singh who were top performers for the Baroda side during the previous edition were overlooked during squad selection. Even an experienced player like Yusuf Pathan was not picked for this season’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
During the difficult times of this pandemic wherein mental health of a player is of utmost importance as they have to stay in a bio-bubble as well as keep themselves focused on the game, such incidents may have adverse effects on a player and should be avoided.#MentalHealth pic.twitter.com/n3V2kKeO4G
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 12, 2021
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