Yogesh Nagar had an eventful start to the 2009-10 Ranji Trophy season. Placed at number six, he scored 55 runs in over two hours to ensure that Delhi batted only once against Baroda. Nagar bowled 12 overs of off-spin over the remaining three days, dismissing the home side’s wicketkeeper Pinal Shah in the first innings just when he was starting to look dangerous on 63.
Unfortunately, the 19-year-old’s memories from the game neither include his exploits with the bat or the ball, but that of joining 31 other domestic cricketers who find themselves in a forbidden group of “chuckers”.
With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on the hunt to eradicate throwing from domestic cricket and having strictly instructed umpires to waste no time in no-balling a suspect action, Delhi have decided against risking Nagar against Karnataka.
With five players from the regular squad — Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Ishant Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ashish Nehra — representing India in the ongoing one-day series against Australia and Chetnya Nanda and Mithun Manhas nursing injuries, Delhi coach Vijay Dahiya says despite being an all-rounder, Nagar won’t be part of the bowling attack.
“We have been notified by the BCCI that if Nagar is called again he will be banned from bowling. He is a youngster and we are not going to take any chance by bowling him in the next match against Karnataka,” explained Dahiya , speaking to Sportline.
Lack of options
Delhi skipper Aakash Chopra — who himself might miss the game against Karnataka due to an injury — said that he had to use all the available resources to the fullest against Baroda.
... contd.