CHENNAI : There was embarrassment in store for the BCCI in naming the Duleep Trophy squads. The selectors on Monday first announced the three teams, with Punjab wicketkeeper Abhishek Gupta in one of them. He is suspended till September 14 for failing a dope test last season. Later, the BCCI corrected the mistake by naming Vidarbha’s Akshay Wakhade in place of Gupta.
“It was brought to notice by the BCCI anti-doping team that Abhishek Gupta who was initially added in the India Red squad is serving an 8-month ban for a doping violation. His ban is set to end on September 14. The selection committee has reached a consensus that Akshay Wadkar will be included in the team as replacement,” said a statement. Gupta was suspended last month.
Because the period of suspension started on January 15, he is out till September 14. The Duleep Trophy will be played from August 17 to September 4. “It’s obviously a mistake,” a BCCI official told Express before the replacement was named. “I can’t say why or how it happened.” Gupta made his debut for Punjab last season and played six first-class matches, other than six one-dayers and nine T20 games.
