Goa’s Ranji Trophy debacle may prompt GCA to axe senior players

Panaji: Goa’s senior cricketers have reasons to be afraid, very afraid.
Goa’s performance at the Ranji Trophy this season was disappointing, winning just one of their eight matches and finishing sixth in a group of nine. Goa finished with 18 points in their kitty, half of what group champions Saurashtra had at the end of all group C matches.
Not that Goa were expected to set the competition on fire, or make it to the next stage in a group that also had the likes of Services, Saurashtra and Jharkhand, but the least that the Goa squad -- coached by Hrishikesh Kanitkar -- could do was to give the established names a run for their money.
That was, however, not to be and Goa instead ended with egg on its face.
The GCA has silently watched the embarrassment all through the Ranji season and are ready to take drastic measures that can help Goan cricket in the future.
“We need really committed cricketers. We have seen players who take their places for granted since they have been around for many years but such an attitude will no longer be tolerated,” said GCA president Chetan Desai.
According to Desai, the GCA will favour young cricketers to make the grade, and even though it may sound risky to field players with little experience on such a big stage, the results are could still be worth anticipating in the next couple of years.
“There are instances where batsmen are happy scoring 30 and 40 runs which will help them secure their spot. Or bowlers who refuse to bowl when the batsman is in full flow and instead come on to bowl at the fall of a wicket. A three-wicket haul gives them immense satisfaction and, of course, ensures that his place is secure. We don’t want such cricketers; we want champions,” said Desai.
The GCA recently blooded young players like Snehal Kauthankar, Amulya Pandrekar and Deepraj Gaonkar, all of whom gave a good account of themselves. Desai made a special mention of Deepraj who stood up to the fierce bowling of Irfan Pathan in a recent T20 tournament at a time when established batsmen shied away.
“We need to take some bold decisions and we will certainly do that,” said Desai.
The GCA are also mulling over the possibility of fielding an all-Goan side for next season’s Ranji Trophy. The professional cricketers -- three of whom are allowed to be fielded -- have not really shouldered heavy responsibilities, with the exception of Rituraj Singh.
Goa’s next Ranji Trophy campaign could also see a Goan coach at the helm of affairs.