Kiran More's Nephew Picked in Baroda Team Despite Failing Fitness Tests

The Baroda Cricket Association ahead of the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy season had stressed on player’s fitness as the major criteria for selection in the team.

However, their selection for the Vijay Hazare Trophy match on Friday raised several issues about their selection policies. Wicket-keeper Viraj Bhosle was picked by the selectors in the 15-member squad despite failing the fitness tests. However senior player Yusuf Pathan has been asked to pass the fitness test to be eligible for selection.

Nephew of former Indian cricketer and chief selector, Kiran More, Bhosle had played a solitary Ranji Trophy clash in 2016. BCA officials revealed Bhosle and another cricketer Gurjinder Mann failed in the 20 m sprint, Run A 3 and Yoyo Tests that are criteria for a player to make himself eligible to play.

“BCA management had earlier said that players’ fitness is very important, but now they have selected Viraj despite not passing the fitness test. Then why take such tests?” questioned a BCA official.

“Yusuf Pathan has been asked to undergo fitness test now. What if he fails in the tests? Can the selectors ignore Yusuf for failing in the test while picking up Viraj who too didn’t pass?” asked the official.

BCA secretary and in-charge, Snehal Parikh when contacted said,

“The team physio gave a fitness report stating that Viraj’s report was borderline. The physio said that he is not unfit to play, so the selectors decided to pick him up based on his performance. Yusuf will undergo fitness test on Saturday.”

More when asked about the situation said he had no relation to BCA’s team selection and refused to comment anything more on this aspect.

The selection committee meeting had arguments when the name of Bhosle was taken up for selection, as another wicket-keeper Taufel Jhilani had passed the test clearly and was eligible for selection.

A former office-bearer of BCA stated Viraj was asked to undergo tests twice to ensure he doesn’t perform well. As per sources, it is also learnt that Yusuf Pathan wasn’t informed about the practice matches and so he didn’t turn up. Akshay Brahmbhatt was kept as a standby by the selectors for Yusuf.

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