'Ambati Rayudu’s career ended similarly' - Danish Kaneria slams BCCI for constantly ill-treating Sanju Samson

Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as well as the selection committee for giving fewer chances to deserving candidates like Sanju Samson ahead of Rishabh Pant.

At the same time, Kaneria also compared the ill-treatment meted out to Samson with veteran middle-order batter Ambati Rayudu. Rayudu was initially considered to be India’s number four batter for the 2019 World Cup in England & Wales. However, the MSK Prasad-led selection committee dropped him from the squad and instead preferred all-rounder Vijay Shankar.

A gutted Rayudu then took a jibe at the cricket board and the selectors for selecting '3D' Shankar ahead of him before officially announcing his shocking retirement from international cricket.

How much can a player tolerate?: Danish Kaneria

“How much can a player tolerate? He already tolerates a lot and scores wherever he gets the opportunity. We might lose a good player because he faces the torture of selection and non-selection in the team. Everyone wants to see his strokes in extra-cover, cover, and especially pull shots,” said Kaneria while speaking on his YouTube channel.

“Ambati Rayudu’s career ended similarly. He scored a lot of runs, but he also faced zyadti (excessiveness). The reason is BCCI and the selection committee’s internal politics. Is there liking or disliking among players?,” he wondered.

Notably, Sanju Samson who made his international debut way back in 2015 has only featured in 11 One Day Internationals and 16 T20Is for India so far. He is yet to make his Test debut.

In the last few years, the Kerala cricketer has been in and out of the national team due to inconsistencies and a cut-throat competition and that is the reason why he has only made sporadic appearances so far in international cricket.

Samson was benched for the T20I series in New Zealand. He made 36 in the first ODI and despite that was benched for the second game as the team management decided to pick Deepak Hooda in the playing XI to add more depth in their bowling. To add to all, he didn't even get chance in India's final ODI against NZ.