It hurts when we are not allowed to play in overseas T20 Leagues: Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa is the latest Indian Cricketer to join the bandwagon of demanding validation from the BCCI for Indian players to participate in foreign T20 leagues. Uthappa’s statements came a few days after Suresh Raina suggested that non contracted T20 players be allowed to partake in overseas T20 tournaments around the World in a live Instagram session with Irfan Pathan, who agreed to the same.
Uthappa told the BBC, “Please let us go, honest to God. It does hurt when we’re not allowed to go and play. It would be so nice if we could go and play at least a couple of others because as a student of the game you want to learn and grow as much as you can.”
Among Indian Cricketers, the likes of Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur have been a part of the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia and the Super League in England, a privilege the Indian male Cricketers haven’t been granted. Three years ago, there were reports that Yusuf Pathan, who was not even in the plans among the selectors for the Indian team, had initially been granted an NOC to play in the Hong Kong T20 Blitz, only to be denied the chance later.
Uthappa sounded optimistic when he said that BCCI’s “progressive” new president Sourav Ganguly might understand the plight of Cricketers in such a situation and pave the way for them to be a part of foreign T20 competitions.
Uthappa said, “Ganguly is a very progressive thinking human being, someone who has always looked to take India to the next level. He actually laid the foundation for where India cricket is now. We’re hoping that he will look at this at some point.”