Indian Cricketers' Association Issues Statement In Favour Of Wriddhiman Saha, Condemns Journalist's "Threats"

The Indian Cricketers' Association on Tuesday released a statement and the body condemned the "threatening message" sent by a journalist to wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha. The ICA has also welcomed the BCCI's decision to probe the issue. "We acknowledge the fact that the media plays a very important role both in the growth of our game and the players but there's always a line that must never be crossed. What has happened in Saha's case is totally unacceptable and we call for the respective press organisations too to take up the matter and ensure such things are not repeated," ICA President Ashok Malhotra said in an official statement.

On the same day, he was dropped from the Test team for Sri Lanka, Saha took to Twitter to share how a "respected journalist" approached him for an interview and how the messages soon became threatening.

"We would offer our full support to Saha at this juncture. No player should be subjected to such 'threats' from anyone in the media or elsewhere. We urge the media to also come out in support of Saha and ensure that these sorts of issues don't crop up again. Any interaction between a player and the media has always to be voluntary," Hitesh Majumdar, the ICA Secretary said.

In his tweet, Saha had stated: " "After all of my contributions to Indian cricket..this is what I face from a so-called 'Respected' journalist! This is where the journalism has gone."

Earlier, Team India head coach Rahul Dravid on Sunday confirmed that he had a conversation with Wriddhiman Saha earlier this year, where he conveyed to him that the management is looking to groom a young wicketkeeper and the time might have run out for the Bengal cricketer.

Dravid's clarification came a day after Saha in the media opened