Ravi Shastri seeks action from BCCI after journalist threatens Saha
What's the story
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri on Sunday slammed a journalist for threatening experienced wicket-keeper batter, Wriddhiman Saha, over an exclusive interview. Shastri also urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief Sourav Ganguly to intervene in the matter and take control of the narrative. He described the journalist's threat as an example of "blatant position abuse."
Context
Why does this story matter?
In an apparent violation of journalistic ethics, a reporter had threatened Saha for not returning their calls for an exclusive interview. Saha has been the center of attention since being axed from India's squad for their Test series against Sri Lanka. Several journalists have since tried to approach Saha to report his side of the story.
Matter
Saha shared screengrab of conversation with journalist
On Sunday, Saha had shared a screengrab of a WhatsApp conversation with a journalist on Twitter, where the latter threatened him for not returning his call. "After all of my contributions to Indian cricket... this is what I face from a so-called 'respected' journalist! This is where the (sic) journalism has gone," Saha had captained the screen-shot on Twitter.
Twitter Post
Have a look at Saha's post
After all of my contributions to Indian cricket..this is what I face from a so called “Respected” journalist! This is where the journalism has gone. pic.twitter.com/woVyq1sOZX
— Wriddhiman Saha (@Wriddhipops) February 19, 2022
Tweet
What did Shastri have to say?
Sharing Saha's tweet on his wall, former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri wrote, "Shocking a player being threatened by a journo. Blatant position abuse. Something that's happening too frequently with #TeamIndia." "Time for the BCCI PREZ to dive in. Find out who the person is in the interest of every cricketer. This is serious coming from ultimate team man WS," he added.
Identity
Harbhajan asked Saha to reveal the name of journalist
Reacting to Saha's bombshell Twitter post, veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh urged Saha to reveal the name of the journalist. "Wridhi you just name the person so that the cricket community knows who operates like this. Else even the good ones will be put under suspicion...What kind of journalism is this?" Harbhajan wrote. He further said "players should be protected" from such people.
Twitter Post
Harbhajan Singh urges Saha to name journalist
Wridhi you just name the person so that the cricket community knows who operates like this. Else even the good ones will be put under suspicion.. What kind of journalism is this ? @BCCI @Wriddhipops @JayShah @SGanguly99 @ThakurArunS players should be protected https://t.co/sIkqtIHsvt
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) February 20, 2022
Information
'Neither is he respected nor a journalist,' says Virender Sehwag
Veteran Indian opener Virender Sehwag slammed the journalist for his unprofessional attitude. Sehwag wrote on Twitter, "Extremely sad. Such sense of entitlement, neither is he respected nor a journalist, just chamchagiri. With you Wriddhi."