Sunil Gavaskar lashes out at BCCI for poor planning ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has expressed strong criticism towards the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for what he sees as inadequate preparation ahead of the upcoming Test series against Australia. 

Gavaskar voiced his concerns over the reduction of the traditional match against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI to just two days, a move he believes could hinder the team's readiness.

In his column for Mid-day, Gavaskar expressed disappointment with the decision, urging the BCCI to reconsider. 

He argued that senior players could be rested, but the younger squad members would benefit significantly from a full-fledged first-class game rather than a shortened two-day affair. 

"The news that the regular match for touring teams against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI has been reduced to a 2-day game is a disappointing one. By all means, rest the seniors and let them not even travel to Canberra for the game but give the newer younger players a proper first-class game rather than a 2-day game which will be neither here nor there. After all, the team are going there to play cricket and not to take rest," Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-day.

The Indian cricket team is scheduled to play a day-night Test in Adelaide from December 6 to 10 as part of their tour of Australia. The series includes a two-day warm-up game against the Australian Prime Minister's XI in Canberra, starting on November 30. 

However, Gavaskar is advocating for this match to be extended to three days, believing it would provide the inexperienced players a better opportunity to prepare for the challenging series ahead.

"The Australians are thirsting for revenge and the Indians will have to be razor sharp to get a hat-trick of series wins there. There's still time to change it to a 3-day game and give the younger inexperienced players a better chance to succeed against the World Test Champions. C'mon BCCI, you can do it," he wrote.

India has enjoyed significant success in their recent tours of Australia, securing 2-1 victories in both the 2018-19 and 2020-21 series. 

Notably, India and Australia are set to face off in the eagerly awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a five-Test match series scheduled to take place in Australia from November 22, 2024, to January 3, 2025.