Gautam Gambhir wants BCCI to play statesman; says India should tour Australia

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir feels BCCI should behave like a statesman amid current crisis and he would have a lot more respect for richest cricket body if national team tours Australia later this year. Gambhir was reacting to BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal's statement that if required, Indian team could go into quarantine upon ir arrival Down Under for scheduled tour in Australian summer.  However, need for two weeks quarantine will only arise if preceding T20 World Cup doesn't take place in Australia. 

Gambhir wants BCCI to play statesman

"Good on BCCI, fabulous. Good on m. This is a very very positive sign, because I think y are looking at a far bigger picture, that it will change mood of entire country as well. 

"It is t only about winning series in Australia, which is very very important. But it will change mood of both countries as well, t only India, but probably for Australia as well, Gambhir said on Star Sports show Cricket Connected'.

India are scheduled to play four Tests Down Under and if tour doesn't take place, Cricket Australia could lose as much as 300 million Australian dollars. And n you have got to be statesman as well, when BCCI, y are probably richest board and probably most powerful board in world, so y need to look at a bigger picture as well and that is what probably y have done.  "If India look to tour Australia, I have got a lot of respect n for BCCI, added southpaw.   

38-year-old Gambhir, who played 58 Tests and 147 ODIS, also took a jibe at world body ICC on recent Test rankings, where Australia dethroned India to be number one side. India slipped to third spot.  

, I am t surprised, because I don't believe in all se rankings, points system, probably worst was points system what was re in World Test Championship, you get same points if you win a Test match away from home, that's ridiculous, said Gambhir, who is kwn for his straight talk.

Questioning Australia's rise to top, Gambhir said team was particularly patic in sub-continent conditions. "If you have to see from overall impact point of view, yes India has lost a Test series away from home, y have won in Australia, but y have been most competitive side, hands down, y won a Test match in South Africa, y won a Test match in England and probably t many or countries have done that. ....Because Australia, I have serious serious doubts, on what front you have you given Australia number one Test ranking, because y have been patic away from home, especially in sub-continent," signed off Gambhir. 

Im credits: PTI