Venkatesh Prasad, the former India seamer, went on a no-holds barred attack against the BCCI via a series of tweets on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, relating to “incompetence” around the World Cup and the Asia Cup.
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Prasad, India’s former bowling coach, posted seven tweets across 17 hours (one has since been deleted), first criticising the “unreasonable demand” for a reserve day solely for the India-Pakistan Asia Cup Super Fours game, before launching a tirade over scheduling changes for the World Cup.
His rant was also directed on an unnamed “corrupt, arrogant guy” who he believes has corrupted “the whole leadership”, saying that the “BCCI needs to do far better than they have done so far” to make the experience smooth for fans.
Prasad’s recent tweets attacking the administration began on the night of Friday, September 8, when he reposted a tweet describing the news of the Asian Cricket Council allocating the reserve day to only one Super Fours game – India v Pakistan.
If true this is absolute shamelessness this. The organisers have made a mockery and it is unethical to have a tournament with rules being different for the other two teams.
In the name of justice, will only be fair if it is abandoned the first day, may it rain harder on the… https://t.co/GPQGmdo1Zx— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) September 8, 2023
He then questioned the additional quota of general tickets that went on sale for the ODI World Cup, after severe backlash from fans, who complained that the ticketing portal was a mess.
This doesn’t look good. Either the ticket partners are incompetent to handle the ticket and traffic or this is another eyewash in the name of releasing tickets. Hope there is a proper audit and identification of how the tickets are sold and to whom and what platform. Just cannot… https://t.co/CLVI8ofWpM
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) September 8, 2023
What was the pressure to agree to this unreasonable demand ? https://t.co/e65JZ6eNcB
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) September 8, 2023
What was the pressure to agree on this unreasonable demand, when you aren’t getting a reserve day for your own matches ? Why so much generosity to ensure India vs Pakistan isn’t washed out even if it costs your own team a chance to qualify. Can you please explain truly the… https://t.co/gPE6H3Fjfd
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) September 8, 2023
As Prasad’s tweets continued, Jay Shah, the BCCI president (and also the president of the Asian Cricket Council) said in an interview that the delay in the World Cup schedule was due to the various “logistical and participating members’ operational challenges and broadcast requirements”. Shah maintained that the BCCI was confident the World Cup will be organised as a “grand and successful event”.
There is no debate and doubt on the fact that we have messed up the lead up to the World Cup. Unreasonable delay in schedule in the first place and if that wasn’t enough changing the schedule hampering 5 matches in the process, if that wasn’t enough a completely non-transparent…
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) September 9, 2023
We have a good team and are strong contenders for the World Cup but we need genuine fans inside the stadium cheering for the team and their experience needs to be far smoother and easier than what it has been ,and for that the BCCI needs to do far better than they have done so…
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) September 9, 2023
Returning back to the issue of fans and their experience, Prasad said that the current situation was “a reflection of the country as a whole and we as a nation should not be let down at any cost”.
Prasad has been vocal with his views on social media, often disagreeing publicly with others on cricketing matters. In February, he hit out at Aakash Chopra for a “vile video” following his criticism of KL Rahul, while in February last year, he called out players who give “journalist ‘bullies'” a platform, in the aftermath of Wriddhiman Saha’s public row with journalist Boria Majumdar.
