Former Indian Cricketer and ace spinner Harbhajan Singh has been very vocal about his journey in Indian cricket, be it the highs or the lows that he has seen. But now, he has highlighted something that has shocked many and has also highlighted the issues with Indian Cricket as such.

What’s the issue?

In an interview with India Today, he has said that the Indian board could have shown a bit more empathy towards those players who were a part of the 2011 World Cup contingent. He slammed the BCCI for favoritism and treating a set of players as a “use and throw” alternative, and further went on to call it a sad chapter in the history of Indian cricket.

“You also know what those officials were doing, what was happening in Indian cricket at that time and which section of people were playing, and how others were being ignored. If we were good enough to win the World Cup in 2011, why didn’t we play even a single match together after that? Was that team good enough just to win the World Cup and became worse after that?” Harbhajan said.

He feels that his exit was unceremonious and he was left with many questions unanswered. He also cited the examples of Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, and Gautam Gambhir falling off the selectors’ radar before the next ODI World Cup.

“Were 31-year-old Harbhajan Singh, 30-year-old Yuvraj Singh, 32-year-old Virender Sehwag, 29-year-old Gautam Gambhir who played in 2011, not good enough to play in the World Cup team of 2015? Why were they removed from the team one by one? Why were they treated like ‘Use and Throw’? It’s a sad story of Indian cricket. I don’t know what’s happening now but till 2011 a lot of people helped me, a lot of them pulled my leg. But after 2012 they pulled my leg to throw me out completely,” he further added.

Harbhajan last played for India in March 2016 in a T20 game against UAE. Post the world cup he played just 26 games for India and the Turbanator said the BCCI officials and the then skipper had no answers to his expel.

“I was 31 in 2011 and had picked up 400 wickets. And a 31-year-old boy can’t take 400 wickets overnight. He must have done something right. Yes, I have won a few games for India and I have done very bad in a few games too. That’s the way the game goes.”