JOIN USWith the BCCI disciplinary committee accepting his apology, K Gowtham is a relieved man now.
The off-spinning all-rounder, who landed himself in trouble by playing a KPL game after skipping a Duleep Trophy game citing typhoid last month, was let off with a warning. The Karnataka player confessed that he had learnt his lessons.
“It’s good to be free from the problem,” Gowtham told DH on Friday. “I have definitely learnt a lesson and I will not repeat this act.”
Claiming that he was diagnosed with typhoid, Gowtham missed the Duleep Trophy game for India Red against India Blue played from September 13-16. However, The 28-year-old appeared for his franchise Belagavi Panthers in a Karnataka Premier League match on September 12 to leave the national selectors furious. Gowtham was expectedly dropped from the India ‘A’ squad for the two four-day matches against New Zealand ‘A’ and an inquiry was set up to look into the issue.
The Board then referred the issue to a disciplinary committee consisting of BCCI acting president CK Khanna, MP Jyotiraditya Scindia and Saurashtra strong man Niranjan Shah. The committee accepted his apology after taking a written undertaking from the player that he would not repeat the mistake.
Gowtham said he was grateful for the BCCI to have accepted his apology. “The disciplinary panel gave me a warning that it was my last chance. The panel members decided that my exclusion from the India ‘A’ squad was my punishment. I am grateful to the BCCI. I thank the Karnataka State Cricket Association for being a strong support and guiding me during the tough phase,” he said.
The Bengaluru player said his focus is on doing well in the Ranji Trophy. “As far as my game is concerned, I just need to continue to do what I have been doing. My current goal is to perform well for Karnataka in Ranji Trophy.”