HYDERABAD: The Pragyan Ojha conundrum has come to an end. More than a month after the India discard expressed a desire to play for Hyderabad again and sought a no-objection certificate (NOC) from Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), it emerged on Wednesday that he has been denied one.
“It was decided that the NOC to Ojha will not be issued this year. The decision is final,” Avishek Dalmiya, CAB joint-secretary, told Express. “The decision has been taken keeping in mind the betterment of Bengal cricket.” It was learnt CAB president Sourav Ganguly was consulted before taking the decision. With the last date for inter-state transfers expiring on August 31, Ojha has to play for Bengal at least for another year. He left Hyderabad in the 2015-16 season.
Officials of Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) said they had not received any communication from CAB. “We don’t want to look desperate. We’ve written to the BCCI on this and the decision has to be made by Sourav,” HCA secretary T Sheshnarayan said. Informed about CAB’s decision, the secretary said, “Then, all the best to Ojha.” The HCA president G Vivekanand said the then association supremo Arshad Ayub should have stepped in when the left-arm spinner decided to leave Hyderabad in 2015.
Ojha took 36 wickets in nine matches for Bengal in 2015-16, but six matches in his second season yielded just 10 scalps. He also had a tiff with Ashok Dinda, when the two exchanged blows. Last month, Ojha sounded excited, saying he was looking forward to returning to Hyderabad, who reached the Ranji Trophy quarters last season. Ojha could not be contacted on the latest development.
46 Wickets taken by Pragyan Ojha in Ranji Trophy during his two-year stint with Bengal. His first season was quite successful as the left-arm spinner grabbed 36 scalps in 9 matches.
vishal@newindianexpress.com