Saba Karim resigns as BCCI General Manager

Saba Karim, the former Indian cricketer has resigned as the General Manager (Cricket Operations) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). If reports are to be believed, the 52-year-old was asked to step down after he failed to manage the roadmap for Indian domestic cricket post the coronavirus outbreak, which has now halted Indian cricket for four months.

Back in December 2017, Karim was appointed for the role after he edged out former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad. The retired wicketkeeper batsman replaced MV Sridhar, who resigned in September 2017. Later, on October 30, Sridhar passed away.

“Yes, he has been asked to resign. One of the reasons for that is that he was not able to prepare any tangible action plan for domestic cricket (in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic),” a BCCI source was quoted as saying in Sportskeeda.

In 2012, Karim was appointed as the national selector from the East Zone. Earlier on Sunday, a BCCI official said that he has stepped down from his GM post. “We have received his resignation; he will serve his notice period. The board will look out for a new GM in Cricket operation. The Apex Council has given powers to office bearers to fill up the post,” the board official said.

Saba Karim’s career in brief

Karim was in the fray for selection when the Indian cricket team was straining to find an apt keeper-batsman. Karim made his debut back in 1997 in an ODI against South Africa at Bloemfontein. In 2000, he made his Test debut against Bangladesh at the Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka. But his career for the national team could never take off.

In May, he last donned the national colours against the Tigers in Dhaka. In one Test and 34 ODIs, the Bihar-born scored 15 and 362 runs respectively with a solitary half-century against the Proteas in 1997. An eye injury turned detrimental to his career.

He was a stalwart for Bengal in domestic cricket. In 120 first-class and 124 List A matches, Karim churned out 7,310 and 2,305 runs respectively. He also boasted off 24 centuries and 47 half-centuries. In his career, he also shone as a keeper, taking 341 catches and effecting 107 stumpings.