Sourav Ganguly joins Bedi and Vengsarkar to oppose the proposal of abolishing toss
On Monday, former India captain Sourav Ganguly joined Bishan Singh Bedi and Dilip Vengsarkar in opposing the proposal of abolishing the toss from Test cricket. The ICC committee headed by Anil Kumble will debate whether toss should be removed or not - in a meeting later this month in Mumbai.
A newly-formed ICC committee, one that includes ex-international cricketers and coaches, elite panel umpires and match-referees, has been lately debating over the removal of 'toss' system in Test cricket. If done so, the game's global governing body would break the century-old tradition of the game for the sake of protecting the five-day format.
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The initiative has already garnered criticism from many with the likes of Bishan Singh Bedi and Dilip Vengsarkar staunchly protesting it, and the latest to join the bandwagon was former India captain Sourav Ganguly.Â
"It remains to be seen whether it is implemented or not. Personally, I am not in favor of toss abolition. "If the home team loses the toss, the advantage does not stay," said Ganguly, as reported by India Today.Â
Earlier, largely criticising the move, Bedi had questioned that the need of tinkering with a century-old tradition. "Do away with the toss and? You know what... I really don't understand this. I'm actually at a loss to make any sense. First of all, why would you even want to tinker with a century-long tradition?" Bedi had said.
Vengsarkar, giving his insights on the debate, had stated that things have always been changing in cricket and it would continue to do so with time, but fiddling with something which has been always there from the very beginning wasn’t wise.Â
"As it is, a lot of interfering has already happened with the game of cricket, in terms of how it was played and where things stand today. Why not leave alone some things that have stood the test of time?" said Vengsarkar.
"If this is only about home team's interference in pitch preparation, then just introduce neutral curators. Have a panel of neutral curators just the way the ICC has an elite panel of umpires and match referees. Why do away with a tradition that just not adds to the charm of cricket but gives both participating teams an equal opportunity to rise to the contest?"
Other former players who have supported the move to cancel the toss system are Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Michael Holding and Javed Miandad. They felt it would encourage an even contest between bat and ball.