Indian Cricketers Association extends support to Wriddhiman Saha

The Indian Cricketers Association (ICA), on Tuesday, released an official statement to extend their full support to veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha with regards to the threatening messages the 37-year-old received by a "senior journalist".

In an official statement, the IOC condemned the "Ypu textgate scandal" while urging the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take strict possible action against the journalist. 

The organization also called for the BCCI to cancel the accreditation of the "erring journalist" from all ICC events.

The statement read, "The Indian Cricketers Association (ICA) strongly condemns threatening messages to wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha by a senior journalist and welcomes the BCCI decision to probe the issue and urges game's parent body to take strictest possible action in the matter including if required, the erring journalist's accreditation to all ICC events," said Ashok Malhotra, ICA President.

"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," 

Meanwhile, ICA Secretary Hitesh Majumdar said, "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," 

On Sunday, Saha kicked up a major controversy when he shared screenshots of threatening messages from a journalist.

Sharing the screenshots, an emotional Saha wrote, "After all of my contributions to Indian cricket..this is what I face from a so-called 'Respected' journalist! This is where journalism has gone."

Meanwhile, Saha has now decided against revealing the name of the said journalist.

In a detailed thread on Twitter, the Bengal cricketer explained the reasons behind his decision.

He wrote, "I was hurt and offended. I thought not to tolerate such kind of behaviour and didn’t want anyone to go through this kind of bullying. I decided I will go out and expose the chat in public eye, but not his/her name"

"My nature isn't such that I will harm anyone to the extent of ending someone’s career. So on grounds of humanity looking at his/her family, I am not exposing the name for the time being. But if any such repetition happens, I will not hold back," he added.

"I thank each and everyone who has shown support and extended their willingness to help. My gratitude,"

Saha was dropped from the Test team for the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka.