BCCi now allows Saha to play last two matches of Hazare trophy

Kolkata, Nov 11 (IANS) The Indian cricket board, which Tuesday conveyed to the Cricket Association of Bengal that it should not play wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha - rested for the last two ODIs against Sri Lanka - in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy to keep him fresh for the coming Australia series but later relented and allowed Saha to play the last two games.

Its decision came following a request from the CAB.

Earlier, a CAB source said a BCCI senior appointee called up one of the Bengal selectors and expressed displeasure at Saha turning out in the tournament.

"The BCCI's contention was that he has to be kept fresh for the Australia series, particularly for the first test when regular captain-wicketkeeper M.S. Dhoni will not be available," said the source.

"The BCCI also wanted to know under what logic Bengal is playing Saha, when the board has rested him even for the last two matches of the ODI series (against Sri Lanka). The board also pointed out that players like Bhubanesh Kumar and M. Sami are also not playing the tournament after being rested by the BCCI," the source said.

Saha struck an unbeaten 69-ball 84 to pave the way for Bengal's emphatic 163-run victory over Jharkhand in the east zone leg of the the trophy Tuesday.

CAB joint secretary Sourav Ganguly said in the evening that the BCCI should have conveyed its stand officially. "If they don't want, we will not play him. But they should have conveyed it to us officially."