BCCI asks CAB not to play Saha in Vijay Hazare trophy

The Indian cricket board is understood to have conveyed to the Cricket Association of Bengal that it should not play wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha, who has been rested for the last two One day International matches against Sri Lanka, in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy to keep him fresh for the coming Australia series.

A Board of Control for Cricket in India senior appointee called up one of the Bengal selectors and expressed displeasure at Saha turning out in the tournament.

"The BCCI's contention is 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 a Cricket Association of Bengal 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.

Contacted, CAB joint secretary Sourav Ganguly said he was not in the know about the development. "This is the first time I am hearing it. If they don't want, we will not play him. But they should have conveyed it to us officially," he said.