Wriddhiman Saha, India’s wicketkeeper-batsman, shared a screenshot of threatening messages he received from a journalist on Saturday night (February 19). This comes after Saha was left out of India’s Test squad for the match against Sri Lanka.
Saha expressed his dissatisfaction with the state of journalism after a journalist threatened him for allegedly ignoring his calls.
Wriddhiman Saha receives a threat from journalist
The latest controversy in Indian cricket revolves around a series of WhatsApp messages purportedly sent by a journalist to Wriddhiman Saha, the Bengal wicketkeeper who was left out of Team India for the Test series against Sri Lanka.
“After all of my contributions to Indian cricket..this is what I face from a so-called “Respected” journalist! This is where the journalism has gone,” Saha posted via his Twitter account on Saturday alongside a screenshot.
After all of my contributions to Indian cricket..this is what I face from a so called “Respected” journalist! This is where the journalism has gone. pic.twitter.com/woVyq1sOZX
— Wriddhiman Saha (@Wriddhipops) February 19, 2022
According to reports, the BCCI will ask the cricketer to reveal the identity of the unnamed journalist before deciding on a course of action.
Meanwhile, Saha has received an outpouring of support from former cricketers, who have expressed solidarity and urged him to reveal the identity of the journalist. Former India spinner Pragyan Ojha, who represents the Indian cricketers’ association, tweeted, “we will make sure our cricket community boycotts this so called journalist!”
Please name him wriddhi! I promise you as a representative of players, I will make sure our cricket community boycotts this so called journalist!! https://t.co/XmorYAyGvW
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) February 20, 2022
Former coach Ravi Shastri tweeted – “Shocking a player being threatened by a journo. Blatant position abuse. Something that’s happening too frequently with #TeamIndia. Time for the BCCI prez to dive in. Find out who the person is in the interest of every cricketer. This is serious coming from ultimate team man WS”.
Shocking a player being threatened by a journo. Blatant position abuse. Something that's happening too frequently with #TeamIndia. Time for the BCCI PREZ to dive in. Find out who the person is in the interest of every cricketer. This is serious coming from ultimate team man WS https://t.co/gaRyfYVCrs
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) February 20, 2022
Meanwhile, after being dropped from the Test squad, Saha revealed that team management, led by head coach Rahul Dravid, had advised him to consider “retirement” because he would no longer be considered for selection.
Saha, who is normally calm, came out firing on Saturday after being left out of the team. He told that some of Chief Selector Chetan Sharma’s statements at the press conference following the selection committee meeting surprised him.
