BCCI planning to host a farewell match for MS Dhoni

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is, reportedly, trying their best to host a farewell match for MS Dhoni, who retired from international cricket on Saturday, August 15. Having last played in the 2019 World Cup, the 39-year-old bid adieu to Team India through a post on Instagram where he gave a glimpse of his illustrious journey for the Men in Blue.

Speaking on the farewell match, a BCCI official said that they are planning for the game after the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), scheduled to start on September 19 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE),

“There is no international series right now, maybe after IPL we will see what can be done because Dhoni has done a lot for the nation and he deserves all the respect. We always wanted to have a farewell match for him but Dhoni is a different player. He announced his retirement when nobody was thinking of it,” the official was quoted as saying in The New Indian Express.

That will be our honour to felicitate MS Dhoni, says BCCI official

The official said that the board hasn’t had a talk with Dhoni, but will be trying their best for a “proper felicitation ceremony” for India’s favourite son.

“No, but surely we will speak to him during the IPL and that would be the right place to get his opinion about a match or series. Well, there will be a proper felicitation ceremony for him no matter if he agrees on it or not. That will be our honour to felicitate him,” the official stated.

Earlier, veteran cricketer Madan Lal also agreed on holding a proper farewell match for the Jharkhand-born Dhoni. “I would be really happy if the BCCI hosts a match for Dhoni. He is a legendary player and you can’t let him go just like that. His fans would want to see him again in action,” Lal had said.

Even Hemant Soren, the Jharkhand Chief Minister asked for a farewell match for Dhoni. For the same, Soren had also made an appeal to the BCCI, the world’s richest cricket board. Dhoni will now be seen playing for the Chennai Super Kings in the 2020 IPL.