Manoj Tiwary, Bengal's domestic legend who recently retired from all forms of cricket, has had some issues with Ranji Trophy, India's premier first-class cricket competition. Tiwary who has gone on to lead Bengal and has over 10,000 first-class runs had recently said that the tournament should be scrapped, a statement for which he was even fined by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as he was still an active cricketer then.
However, now that he is officially retired, Tiwary has spoken at length about the concerns with the domestic first-class cricket competitions. He said that while players are subject to a dope test, he has himself seen umpires in domestic matches turn up drunk.
"I will definitely do it. If a player has to go through dope tests, it should be extended to domestic umpires. Many times I have seen umpires walking out to the middle while still nursing a hangover. The umpires have looked sleepy. How can he function properly in such a situation?" Manoj Tiwary told Indian Express.
"I asked, "Sir kya liye tha kal raat mein? (Sir, what did you drink last night?). The reply was: "I prefer whisky on the rocks." And they laugh. BCCI should get the hearing and eyesight of every umpire checked before the start of each season," he added.
Manoj Tiwary's Question To MS Dhoni After Retirement
Tiwary, who also happens to be Bengal's Sports Minister Tiwary, said that he wanted to ask MS Dhoni why was he dropped from the side after scoring a century in ODIs against West Indies in 2011. Notably, the ex-India star who played 15 international fixtures, recorded his highest individual score of an unbeaten 104 in an ODI against West Indies. He played 12 ODIs and 3 T20Is. Ironically though, Tiwary, a first-class veteran, did not get to play a Test match for the country.
"I would like to ask Dhoni why was I dropped from the playing XI in 2011 (December, 5th ODI against West Indies) after scoring the century? I had the potential to be a hero just like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli but could not be. Today, when I see many people getting more opportunities on TV, I feel sad," Tiwary said on the sidelines of his felicitation ceremony at Kolkata's Calcutta Sports Journalists' Club.