I was asked to compromise the Over-50’s Team from India: Shailendra Singh

Before the second match of the Over-50’s Cricket World Cup against Pakistan, Shailendra Singh has stepped down as the Captain of the team from India.

Shailendra Singh says, “I have backed out because my team from India was being compromised due to the actions of a senior member of the Over 50’s World Cup Committee, in the presence of the Veterans Cricket Association of South Africa. I was asked that I must include and play two specific players in the two out of the next four round robin matches, which India is scheduled to play against Pakistan, South Africa, Wales and Namibia; and further instructed that India has to drop the President and Head Coach of IVCCI, from the Indian Selection Committee.

“The said person on record decided the selection panel of the cricket team from India. This is beyond all tenets of integrity and amounts to sports manipulation which I will, shall and can never accept nor indulge in. I cannot, with my integrity intact, continue to captain and play for the team from India in this tournament.”

Shailendra Singh further goes on to say, “In my thirty-five years of impeccable record related to Indian cricket, I have never seen such attempted manipulation and blatant compromise of the integrity of cricket.”

Also stepping down is Ajoy Roy, President and Head Coach of IVCCI. Roy says, “The present situation is unacceptable to me. I am immensely disturbed and do not endorse the team from India playing against Pakistan today. Therefore, I have withdrawn IVCCI and myself from participating any further in the 2020 Over-50’s Cricket World Cup.”

India in Over-50s World Cup so far

India got off to a poor start in the Over-50s World Cup losing to England. Batting first, they scored only 101 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 45 overs. England didn’t even break a sweat to chase down the total in the 18th over of the innings winning the match by eight wickets. India are currently facing arch-rivals Pakistan in their second game of the tournament.

Once again, batting first, they put up a decent total of 193/7 on the board after 45 overs and will be hoping to defend the total this time around.