BCCI to set up medical panel and hire social media expert for under-fire NCA

New Delhi, Jan 2 (PTI) National Cricket Academy, which has often been criticised for its handling of players' injuries, is set to get help of a BCCI medical panel and a dedicated social media department as part of its overall revamp plan.

need for a medical panel was discussed at NCA's recent meeting which was attended by all BCCI-officer bearers, including president Sourav Ganguly and NCA cricket head Rahul Dravid.

development comes after criticism NCA drew for injury manment of leading India players, including Wriddhiman Saha and more recently Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya and premium pacer Jasprit Bumrah added to NCA's woes by choosing personal rehabilitation over recovering in Bengaluru.

" BCCI will consult a London-based clinic, Fortius, for setting up its medical panel," a top BCCI official told PTI.

Head of fast bowling, a position which has been lying vacant for a long time, will also be filled soon.

That person will be in charge of setting up a fast bowling program at NCA. board will also hire a nutrition head for Bengaluru-based facility.

As NCA has mainly been in news for all wrong seasons and re is official communication coming out of it.

A social media manr will come on board to provide regular updates on happenings inside facility. move could also go a long way in repairing NCA's reputation, Board official added.

NCA had failed to detect Bhuvneshwar's sports hernia and was also at receiving end of criticism when it came to light that Bumrah and Hardik were taking outside help for ir recovery rar relying on NCA staff.

Going forward, Ganguly has already made it clear that NCA will be primary centre for cricketing development programs in country and all India players will have to go to Bengaulru for rehabilitation.

He also expects new NCA facility to be ready in 18 months' time.

or recruitment, which will be done soon, is head of data analytics.

NCA will also be conducting Level 2 and Level 3 coaching courses at its premises with state associations footing bill for ir respectively coaches.

"Coach development consultants" will also be hired on requirement basis.

Utmost caution will be taken while issuing medical updates on Indian players with vetting of information done by team manment as well as NCA. PTI BS PM PM