Indian Cricketers Avoid Breaks Fearing They Would Lose Place In The Team: Yuvraj Singh

The swashbuckling left-hander, who has retired from international cricket to play in private leagues, batted for having a players association, something that has already been done with the institution of the Indian Cricketers’ Association

Former India batsman Yuvraj Singh on Monday fired a strong bullet at the Indian cricket administration by claiming that the country’s cricketers feel compelled to play even when they are not in the best condition, just for the fear of losing their place. The former batting great hoped the situation will change with Sourav Ganguly as BCCI President. The swashbuckling left-hander, who has retired from international cricket to ply his trade  in private leagues, advocated the need for having a players association, something that has already been done with the institution of the Indian Cricketers’ Association as mandated by the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha committee.

“We deserve it. Because there are a lot of times we have been asked to play cricket that we don’t want to. We have to play with the pressure that if we don’t play we will be thrown out,” Yuvraj told reporters. “That pressure has to go off the players that even if they are tired or fatigued or carrying injuries, they have to play,” he said.

Yuvraj cited the example of Australian Glenn Maxwell, who has taken a break from international cricket to deal with mental health issues and has got the backing of his Board. “That support should be given to the players. We see outside India, if players are fatigued and tired mentally, like is the case with (Glenn) Maxwell, he has taken a break because he is feeling it.

“Our players can’t do that because they fear they may lose their place. So a players’ association is very important,” said Yuvraj.