BCCI Willing To Host Farewell Match For MS Dhoni After IPL 2020

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is willing to host a farewell match for former India captain MS Dhoni. The legendary cricketer brought down curtains on his illustrious career on Saturday (August 15), thus ending his long 16-year association with Team India.

But while his retirement was pretty much on the cards and did not surprise many, the manner of the same has surprised as well as disappointed many. A player of MS Dhoni’s stature deserves a grand farewell and there have been calls from all around from the same.

Well, the Indian cricket board is willing to do the same. As per reports, a senior BCCI official said the board will speak to MS Dhoni, during the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and plan accordingly. He also clarified that the BCCI is yet to speak to the wicketkeeper-batsman about the same.

“There is no international series right now, maybe after IPL we will see what can be done because Dhoni has done a lot for the nation and he deserves all the respect. We always wanted to have a farewell match for him but Dhoni is a different player. He announced his retirement when nobody was thinking of it,” the official was quoted as saying by IANS.

“No, but surely we will speak to him during the IPL and that would be the right place to get his opinion about a match or series. Well, there will be a proper felicitation ceremony for him no matter if he agrees on it or not. That will be our honour to felicitate him,” he added.

Calls for farewell match:

Not only the fans but cricketers also want to see MS Dhoni play a farewell game. Former Indian cricketer Madan Lal, too, agreed on holding a proper farewell match for the 39-year old

“I would be really happy if the BCCI hosts a match for Dhoni. He is a legendary player and you can’t let him go just like that. His fans would want to see him again in action,” Lal told the news agency.

“IPL is happening in the UAE and everybody will be glued to their screens to watch him play. But the board can host a series in India too, so that people can see him live in the stadium (obviously after this pandemic gets over),” he added.

Earlier, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren had also sought a farewell match for the former Indian captain. Soren had made an appeal to the BCCI, saying that Jharkhand would be the host.

MS Dhoni has retired from international cricket as India’s most decorated captain and wicketkeeper-batsman. He led Team India to glory in the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy. With the bat, he scored over 10,000 runs in ODIs and more than 16,00 in T20Is.

Also Read: MS Dhoni Retirement Was Shocking, Wanted To Give Big Send-Off: KL Rahul

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