Cricketers Shouldn't Be Allowed To Pick And Choose Games, Says Mohinder Amarnath

Former Indian batsman Mohinder Amarnath hit the headlines recently for his opinion about how players of today’s generation are going against the spirit of the game by choosing the games of their own choice. Without pinpointing or naming anyone, he had stated that India must focus on their game and not let individuals to pick and choose matches or series they want to play.

Amarnath’s statement not only applies to Indian players but even the overseas cricketers who are telling their teams that they want to pick and choose matches of their own choice. According to Amarnath, no player, irrespective of their stature is bigger than the game.

No player should choose matches of his own choice: Mohinder Amarnath

He feels it is not advisable for the players to dictate terms over their selection without playing a handful of games in the domestic circuit. “In such a situation, no player, however big an achiever, is larger than the game. Nobody should be in a position to dictate terms regarding his selection without playing adequate domestic cricket. There is no player anywhere in the world who should be able to tell the team that he wants to choose his matches. It would be an unhealthy trend to start, particularly when there are hundreds of cricketers across India who are toiling in domestic cricket,” he opined.

It is to be noted that Rishabh Pant and Wriddhiman Saha have been handed the responsibility to perform as a wicketkeeper-batsman since the World Cup in England earlier this year. Recently, the batting sensation Sanju Samson came into the fray with his recent selection for the T20I series against the Windies. “Wriddhiman Saha, Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson are all very competent and the thrust should be to look forward,” wrote Amarnath.

Talking about the upcoming three-match T20I series with the first match scheduled to play today at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, Mohinder Amarnath reckoned West Indies are a great side to challenge India despite not having the likes of Andre Russell.

“This (T20s) is a format that the West Indians have excelled in, but they are without some of their big guns like Andre Russell. The format lends itself to surprise results and can be turned by one-star performance, so West Indies are very much a contender,” he opined.

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