Just a day retirement from first-class cricket, former Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary has launched a scathing attack at new-age Indian cricketers and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for not prioritising domestic cricket.
Tiwary took credit for BCCI making it mandatory for players to play a minimum number of Ranji Trophy matches to be eligible for the Indian Premier League's (IPL) auction pool.
"In hindsight, I feel that the directive issued by the BCCI might not have been given had I not posted it on X. Perhaps my post prompted the BCCI secretary to put the players under pressure now.
"The seriousness they have shown by taking this step in the crucial stage of the Ranji Trophy indicates their concern that many players, especially high-profile ones who have succeeded in the IPL with limited first-class cricket, are not giving enough importance to the Ranji Trophy," Tiwary was quoted as saying by PTI.
Tiwary questioned the governance of the cricket board but said that he does not ‘want to engage in a fight’ as he only wants the Ranji Trophy to not lose its importance.
"I could have spoken up earlier, but it seems that the BCCI is no longer governed by sportspersons; it's now run by politicians. I am associated with a political party, but I am also a sportsperson.
"I don't want to engage in a fight; I simply want the Ranji Trophy to be prioritised, as it is slowly losing its importance," the 38-year-old said.
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He also questioned England’s ‘Bazball’ approach. He said that instead of looking to save the match, they look to improve their strike rate and attract IPL franchises’ attention.
“The new-age cricketers adopt a 'Bazball' approach, swinging the bat aggressively from the first ball. Personally, I dislike this approach because it focuses solely on winning or losing.
"However, there is a scope to save a match, especially when facing a potential loss. They are aiming to secure an IPL contract or improve their strike rate to attract attention,” he said.
However, he does not want the blame to fall on players. He went on to say that the essence of IPL has been lost.
"I won't blame the players; it's a situation that has emerged. The essence of IPL seems to have been lost.
"IPL is a massive platform for all of us, but I also request the BCCI president and secretary to increase the significance of the Ranji Trophy,” he added.
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