Ajay Jadeja led the contingent for the CWG and the facet comprised the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble, Robin Singh and Harbhajan Singh amongst others.
The Sahara Cup crew was led by Mohammad Azharuddin and boasted of the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Navjot Sidhu, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad as a number of the massive outstanding names within the squad.
The BCCI was concerned in a tussle with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) previous to the beginning of the CWG 1998 however ultimately compromised sending in a weak half full crew to Malaysia.
“After jousting pointlessly with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the BCCI eventually gave in and sent half the Indian team to Kuala Lumpur, half to Toronto,” wrote Harsha Bhogle.
They had made a multitude of the scenario and dangerous planning and administration meant that the dates of each the tournaments clashed with one another in September. None may very well be prevented. India is a big-member nation of the CWG and the Sahara Cup concerned taking part in in opposition to arch-rivals Pakistan producing a whole lot of curiosity and fervour again house.
Even earlier than the CWG started, the BCCI said that ought to India fail to make it to the semi-final, a couple of massive gamers can be despatched to Canada for the Sahara Cup. This was horrible messaging to say the least, neglect the impression it had on the contingent that was despatched for the Games.
India had been in Group B for the CWG 1998. As luck would have it their opening encounter in opposition to Antigua and Barbuda was deserted after the intervention of rain. India beat Canada by 112 runs however within the massive deciding match had been hammered by a robust Australian XI by 146 runs. Steve Waugh’s counter-attacking hundred helped Australia to 255 for five of their 50 overs earlier than India had been skittled for a paltry 109 within the thirty eighth over. That was the tip of the CWG marketing campaign for India.
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India then determined to ship 4 gamers for the final two matches of the Sahara Cup after a sequence of miscommunication and double conflicted messaging to the media by the BCCI President Raj Singh Dungarpur and Secretary Jaywant Lele who weren’t positive of what they had been doing.
It was 1-1 on the time in Toronto with India profitable the opener however Pakistan coming again to degree the five-match sequence. There was extra controversy and drama as Pakistan opposed India sending 4 gamers to Canada who weren’t part of the unique squad. A compromise was reached and India trimmed the quantity down to 2 with Tendulkar and Jadeja given a ticket to Toronto.
There had been weirder incidents which adopted. While Jadeja was a part of the XI for the fourth ODI with Pakistan main the sequence 2-1, there was no signal of the nice Tendulkar. The BCCI was unable to hint the Little Master who apparently had gone to Khandala for a visit together with his household solely to hitch the crew for the final match – by then Pakistan had already taken the sequence 3-1!
Tendulkar did rating 77 opening the innings within the lifeless rubber whereas skipper Azharuddin smashed 100. India posted 256 for 9 however Saeed Anwar and Aamer Sohail got here up with excessive impression performances on the high of the order to chase down the goal within the forty ninth over and seal the sequence 4-1 for Pakistan.
A extra skilled BCCI would hope that the drama and controversy will not be repeated this time round. Unlike in 1998, the place India lacked a expertise pool and didn’t have depth of their bench energy, issues are completely different in 2021. A full-strength Test contingent is being despatched to England and a robust limited-overs’ squad will likely be chosen from the remaining gamers in India – which given India’s richness in reserves will likely be higher and extra gifted than most worldwide groups round.
India could effectively return with each the trophies this time round!
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