'This is bullying, not acceptable' - Irfan Pathan comes out in support of Wriddhiman Saha amid threat episode

Senior Indian wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha has stirred a storm in Indian cricket after having posted the screenshots of his conversation with a journalist. Taking to Twitter, Saha revealed of texts he claims to have received from the journalist, who is seen threatening the Indian international with dire consequences for having ignored his call and request for an interview.

There have been several of Saha’s former teammates as well as past cricketers who have come out in support of the cricketer. While many have urged him to come out with the journalist’s name, another former Indian cricketer, Irfan Pathan, has stated that this is not the first time something of this nature is happening with an Indian cricketer. Pathan took to Twitter to suggest that journalists in the past have threatened other players too and termed the entire incident as ‘bullying’.

“It’s not new what happen with Saha in regards to journalist threatening a player (They do that even when a player is going down in his career) This is bullying and it should not be acceptable” tweeted Pathan on his official handle.

It’s not new what happen with Saha in regards to journalist threatening a player (They do that when a player is going down in his career ) This is bullying and it should not be acceptable!

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 21, 2022

Wriddhiman Saha discloses chat with chief selector and coach

Apart from this episode, another one of Saha’s statements has riled up a debate in the cricketing circles. The 37-year-old was recently excluded from India’s Test squad for the two-match home series against Sri Lanka. Saha commenting on his exclusion stated that he was told by both the chief selector, Chetan Sharma and national coach, Rahul Dravid that they are now looking beyond him and he would no longer be considered in the Indian team’s future plans.

The 40-Test veteran states that even though he scored a vital 61 not out for India in his last outing against New Zealand in Kanpur, the message was passed on to him that his international career could well be done. As per Saha, he feels it’s his age that has gone against him and any number of future performances might not help him in making a comeback to the side.