Reports | National selectors were unaware of Prithvi Shaw doping violation prior to squad selection

In what seems to be a new revelation in the never-ending Prithvi Shaw doping scandal, reports have emerged that the national selectors were unaware of the opener's doping violation when they met to announce the squad to tour the West Indies. According to a report by TOI, NCA physiotherapist Ashish Kaushik allegedly wrote a mail to the selectors informing them that Shaw "is recovering well from his right hip injury but is currently declared unfit and unavailable for selection".

The report contradicts BCCI's own revelation on Thursday, where they released a timeline of events which took place during the whole saga. According to BCCI's timeline, the 19-year-old opener was charged with the commission of an anti-doping violation rule on July 16, five days before the selectors announced the squad for the Windies. To add to this, it also states that Shaw himself responded to the charge on July 18. 

The sequence of events indicates that the selectors were bafflingly never informed about Shaw's violation, which shows negligence and carelessness on their part, resulting in total miscommunication. It is also being reported that some selectors were "informally informed" about the Mumbaikar's violation, but no official statement was made. 

"If the national selectors weren't informed about the real reason why Prithvi was not available, how can one expect the others, including the media to know the truth," a close source was quoted as saying by TOI.

The source was also critical of the authority for handling the whole saga in the way they have, accusing them of making a mockery out of young Shaw's career.

"Any cricketer at the national level will agree with that. So, who gave Shaw the syrup? Somebody did, because he didn't buy it on his own. It's a pity how the CoA, selectors, NCA heads, anti-doping heads don't mind making news out of a 20-year-old," the source further added.