Srinivasan rules out post mortem of England tour performance

New BCCI president N Srinivasan on Monday ruled out any post mortem of the Indian team's dismal tour of England in which the side led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni failed to win a single international match.

"The tour did not go as planned. We did not have our best team from the beginning. A lot of players were injured. We have faith in the team. There is no reason why we can't get back (no. 1 spot) there. We have not formed any committee (to do a post moretem)," said Srinivasan at the conclusion of the Board's 82nd Annual General Meeting on Monday.

The Indian squad was whitewashed 0-4 by England in the Test rubber and lost the ODI series 0-3, besides losing the lone T20 clash against the hosts.

The Chennai-based businessman said that the same team had climbed to the pinnacle of ODI and Test cricket before the England tour by winning the World Cup in April and achieving the no. 1 Test rank that it kept for more than a year.

"Our cricketers have achieved whatever there was to achieve. Two months ago they were heroes having won the World Cup, they were the number one Test team,. They had one bad series. (Now) they need our support," he said.

Srinivasan did not agree with the view that an excess of cricket had effected the team's performance.

"BCCI does not support the view of too much cricket, because excepting a few not all play all the three formats and those who did were not the ones who were injured."

"We have taken stock of the cricket being played around the world and there is not much difference between other teams. Yes we did not do well but we have belief in the team, they will bounce back," he declared.

Srinivasan also dismissed suggestions that the BCCI lacked a proper injury management system.

"We have excellent facilities at the NCA (Bangalore), as good as anywhere in the world. All players, including the Ranji players have access to it for rehabilitation."

"We have also instructed the selectors not to choose any player unless the NCA has cleared them. Beyond that if players are injured in the field or while playing, there is little that we can do," he said.

"We have made it clear to the physios, to the team and selectors that we want transparency as far as injury is concerned. In the last three years there has been substantial improvement," he added.

Srinivasan also said that the physios connected with the various IPL teams have been instructed to notify the Board of any injuries sustained by the BCCI-contracted players.

"Mr Sundar Raman (IPL CEO) has been instructed and he has conveyed it to the franchisees that the BCCI should be immediately reported if there is any injury to the contracted players," he said.

But he made it clear that there was no cap on IPL players over the number of matches they would take part in when representing their franchise outfits.

"During the auction, no cap was on. If there is any injury, it has to be immediately reported to the BCCI. That takes care of it," he explained.

On the question of the Sports Bill, Srinivasan said that the Board would be able to respond to it only after the provisions of the revised Bill become known.

"When the Bill was prepared views of all sporting bodies were solicited. BCCI was also present and Arun Jaitley made a presentation. We have learned from the media that the Bill will be redrafted. If there are any views to be expressed, we would do it then," he said.

Srinivasan also ruled out the possibility of a clear window for IPL, citing the hectic international FTP schedule of all the countries.

"You have ten teams. They play each other home and away every four years. There's an ICC event every year, the T20 World Cup every two years, the 50-over World Cup every four years and there is the under 19 World Cup too. It occupies so much of space that it is difficult to get a window."

"That is why we have the concept of having ten foreign players in each (IPL) squad but with only four in the playing eleven. Everyone is aware we cannot have all the (foreign) players available to play all the time," he said.

Srinivasan also defended BCCI's move to send Sundar Raman, who is not an office bearer, to attend the last ICC meeting earlier this month.

"It is the prerogative of the BCCI whom to send. Sundar Raman is accomplished and has excellent knowledge to present our views," he said.