'This Sends Out Wrong Message': Irfan Pathan Flags BCCI's Special Treatment To Hardik Pandya

2024 T20 World Cup: India’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is still at the helm of facing criticism. There was a lot of debate surrounding his inclusion in the 2024 T20 World Cup squad but the board gave him a place in the 15-member squad despite his poor bowling and batting performances in IPL 2024. He has also been made the vice-captain of the team and this decision has irked former all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who slammed the BCCI for the expectations that they had set for Hardik Pandya.

Irfan also talked about the case of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, who were pushed out from the Indian team and were asked to give preference to domestic cricket. But Hardik didn’t have to go through all this and directly made a comeback to the national side.

"Previously, Hardik Pandya held the captaincy, but Rohit Sharma took over for T20 matches. Post T20 World Cup, there was a new plan; they aimed for a younger team with Pandya and Surya as potential captains. Yet, questions arise regarding Pandya's performance, consistency and commitment to Indian cricket," Pathan was quoted as saying on Star Sports.

"Regular participation in domestic cricket is essential for serving Indian cricket throughout the year. Injuries are inevitable, but proper planning involving consistent match play, including domestic cricket, is vital for a player's return. But then there's this one player who returns from injury without fulfilling the same requirements," he added.

Flagging the special treatment to Hardik Pandya by the selectors, Pathan said that "it sends a wrong message to the rest of the team". "That shouldn't happen because it sends the wrong message to the rest of the team. When they see one player receiving special treatment, it disrupts the team environment. Cricket isn't like tennis; it's a team sport where equality is vital. Every player should be treated fairly and equally," he said.

"Regardless of whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned player like Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, cricket is a team sport first and foremost. I've witnessed things in the past, particularly during the T20 World Cup last year, that went against the principles of Indian cricket instances where certain players were given undue advantage, which is unacceptable," Pathan further said.

He also slammed BCCI’s decision to make Hardik the vice-captain and said that Jasprit Bumrah would have suited the role better. "To succeed in tournaments like the World Cup, every player must be treated fairly and equally. So, now, coming back to your question about Hardik Pandya being vice-captain, I understand the rationale behind it due to the importance of continuity in leadership. However, considering the current performance, the selectors opting for continuity may be understandable. Yet, I believe someone like Bumrah wouldn't have been a bad choice either," he said.