Unfair to blame KCA for ODI being called off: Shastri

Tue, Oct 19 10 08:37 PM

Kochi, Oct 19 (PTI) Former India captain Ravi Shastri today said it was "improper" on the part of former BCCI secretary S K Nair to blame Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) for abandoning of the first India-Australia ODI at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium here on October 17. Describing the statement as immature, Shastri told reporters "Even God could not have help in holding the match here." The first ODI had to be abandoned due to heavy rains in Kochi. Nair had criticised KCA for the match being abandoned, alleging that the ineffective drainage system at the stadium had resulted in calling off the match. Nair was also a former KCA office bearer. Shastri said such a situation would not have arisen if KCA had its own stadium and urged the state government to help the association get a stadium of its own. He refused to comment when asked about the Kochi IPL team, saying the franchisee had one more date to reply to the BCCI notice. On Indian speedster Sreesanth not finding a place in the ODI team, Shastri said Sreesanth was a Test match bowler. "He should get into the ODI squad after proving his ability in the Test match." Shastri hoped that Sreesanth would be part of the Indian team to South Africa.

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