Former India player Saba Karim has shared his views over the injury of the opener, Shubman Gill. He said that the youngster should not have travelled to the UK if he knew about his injury. However, Gill featured in the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) final as well.

However, India are slated to play a five-match Test series against England in August and the team is in trouble with Gill’s injury. Meanwhile, Saba Karimshared that Gill should not have hidden the injury. And, the veteran has opined that Mayank Agarwal could replace Gill.

“I was surprised to see Shubman Gill hide his injury. He has been travelling for a long time with the Indian team. There are physios and other medical staff tracking the fitness of the players. It’s very surprising in the first place, how it happened and why it didn’t come up earlier. Mayank should be given preference. We have been harsh towards Mayank. He was sidelined after just 2-3 failed innings,” he added.

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Meanwhile, while responding to the allegations of Saba Karim, a senior BCCI official, quoted by ANI, lashed out at the former cricketer. The BCCI official stated that Karim should know that the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly takes fitness quite seriously.

He also expressed his disappointment for his statement and added that he didn’t expect Karim to question the fitness standards of the Indian players as he himself was a part of BCCI previously as well. “In making such a statement, he has questioned the leadership of Ganguly who is very particular about the rules being followed where the fitness of players and selection of players is concerned. It is a serious allegation to make,” the BCCI official said.

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However, the official has clarified that Shubman Gill wasn’t carrying any injury before the England tour and he sustained the injury during the England tour. The BCCI official also backed the youngster saying that Gill has a high level of integrity and it doesn’t go well with a respected person like Saba Karim to make such statements as well.