Mohammad Kaif calls for transparency in NCA's player management

With Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pacer Deepak Chahar being the latest to be added to the growing injury list, a lot of questions have been asked about the rehabilitation process that happens at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Previously, the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer too were cleared by the NCA prematurely and the duo now seem to have sustained an injury that is set to keep them on the sidelines for a long time. 

Chahar walked away from the field on Saturday (April 8) with a hamstring injury and his further participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 hangs in the balance. He also missed the entire IPL 2022 with a back injury. 

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has pointed fingers at the NCA, saying that they have to be held responsible for players' breakdowns.

“I have noticed faults in the system. Players have gotten picked in the squad, and then pulled out before the match citing they weren’t fully fit. This happened to Bumrah recently and even Mohammad Shami has done this a couple of times," Kaif told Sportskeeda. 

"So the NCA trainers, physios, VVS Laxman and his team have to take care of these situations. Because it is unfair on the fans of cricket who are expecting Bumrah to play the next day. I feel this is a very serious matter and the management shouldn’t take it lightly."

Kaif also believes that the players' progress should be made public, so that there is some sort of transperancy and accountability.

“There should be transparency and players should be tested properly before being declared fit. There shouldn’t be any grey area left; a player is either fit or more 10-20 days will be needed. As a Bumrah fan, I want to know what injury he has, what is his recovery time, etc. So they should address this transparency bit and put forth the exact matter,” the former batter added.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri too expressed his frustration at the constant injuries. "Come on, you're not playing that much cricket to be injured again and again. I mean, you can't play four matches on the trot. What are you going to the NCA for? If you are going to come back and then three matches later, you're back there," Shastri said.

"So make sure you get fit and come once and for all because it's damn frustrating. Not just for the team, the players, the BCCI, the captains of the various franchises. It's annoying, to say the least," he further added. 

In the ongoing IPL, MI do not have the services of their premier fast bowler in Bumrah, while Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have been forced to name a new skipper in Shreyas' absence.