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Serving a selection-ban due to disciplinary reasons, Karnataka off-spinner K Gowtham has tendered an unconditional apology but his future with the various Indian teams remains uncertain till the BCCI disciplinary committee dispenses off the matter.
Gowtham, who had appeared in the opening Duleep Trophy game for India Red in Lucknow, had left for Bengaluru a day before the match could finish, claiming he had typhoid. Upon return, however, he turned up for Belagavi Panthers in a Karnataka Premier League match on September 12, a day before India Red’s second clash in Kanpur without taking the permission from the BCCI.
Subsequently, BCCI GM (Game Development) Ratnakar Shetty sent Gowtham a show-cause notice and the 28-year-old was dropped from the India ‘A’ squad that played two four-day matches against New Zealand ‘A’.
While tendering the apology, Gowtham explained the reasons for his action.
“I thought it was typhoid but it turned out to be a viral fever,” Gowtham wrote in his apology letter.
Gowtham further added that “bowling four overs and fielding for 85 minutes” was permissible.
It’s unlikely the explanation will cut ice with the disciplinary panel, headed by BCCI president CK Khanna. The other two members of the committee are Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia and Saurashtra strongman Niranjan Shah.
Khanna, however, appeared to be considerate about Gowtham’s future.
“Yes, I have received his apology letter. In my view, it has been a huge mistake on Gowtham’s part to have disrespected a tournament of Duleep Trophy’s stature. He has apologised unconditionally. He is a young cricketer and we need to look at his career ahead.”
The Khanna-headed panel is likely to consult the Senior selection committee before arriving at any decision. It may take several weeks or even months before the matter is adjudicated and that means Gowtham may not find a place in any of the national teams this season at least.
One consolation for the bowler, though, is that he is eligible to play for Karnataka in the upcoming Ranji Trophy.
Gowtham, who had appeared in the opening Duleep Trophy game for India Red in Lucknow, had left for Bengaluru a day before the match could finish, claiming he had typhoid. Upon return, however, he turned up for Belagavi Panthers in a Karnataka Premier League match on September 12, a day before India Red’s second clash in Kanpur without taking the permission from the BCCI.
Subsequently, BCCI GM (Game Development) Ratnakar Shetty sent Gowtham a show-cause notice and the 28-year-old was dropped from the India ‘A’ squad that played two four-day matches against New Zealand ‘A’.
While tendering the apology, Gowtham explained the reasons for his action.
“I thought it was typhoid but it turned out to be a viral fever,” Gowtham wrote in his apology letter.
Gowtham further added that “bowling four overs and fielding for 85 minutes” was permissible.
It’s unlikely the explanation will cut ice with the disciplinary panel, headed by BCCI president CK Khanna. The other two members of the committee are Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia and Saurashtra strongman Niranjan Shah.
Khanna, however, appeared to be considerate about Gowtham’s future.
“Yes, I have received his apology letter. In my view, it has been a huge mistake on Gowtham’s part to have disrespected a tournament of Duleep Trophy’s stature. He has apologised unconditionally. He is a young cricketer and we need to look at his career ahead.”
The Khanna-headed panel is likely to consult the Senior selection committee before arriving at any decision. It may take several weeks or even months before the matter is adjudicated and that means Gowtham may not find a place in any of the national teams this season at least.
One consolation for the bowler, though, is that he is eligible to play for Karnataka in the upcoming Ranji Trophy.
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(Published 03 October 2017, 19:19 IST)
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