Krishnappa Gowtham tenders apology for 'insulting' Duleep Trophy, BCCI refers matter to disciplinary panel

New Delhi: Karnataka off-spinner Krishnappa Gowtham, who was barred by the BCCI from playing Duleep Trophy and India A series due to disciplinary reasons, has tendered unconditional apology but the matter is still being referred to the disciplinary committee. Gowtham had played the opening Duleep Trophy game for India Red and got five wickets but left for Bengaluru after the match, claiming that he was down with typhoid. [caption id=“attachment_3942047” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AFP[/caption] However, he chose to play a T20 match in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) match without taking permission from the BCCI. Gowtham was show caused by BCCI GM (Game Development) Ratnakar Shetty and was barred from taking further part in the Duleep Trophy and his name was struck off from the India A squad that played two ‘Tests’ against New Zealand A. While tendering “unconditional apology”, Gowtham gave a weird explanation as to why he played KPL game on 12 September for the Belgavi Panthers. “I thought it was typhoid but it turned out to be viral fever,” Gowtham wrote in his apology letter. Gowtham felt that “bowling four overs and fielding for 85 minutes” was permissible being blissfully unaware that he is on selectors’ radar having done well in the India A series in South Africa and was supposed to play against New Zealand A. The BCCI disciplinary committee comprising president CK Khanna, senior politician Jyotiraditya Scindia and Niranjan Shah will now take a call on his future. When contacted, Khanna told PTI, “Yes, I have received his apology letter. In my view, it has been a huge mistake on Gowtham’s part to have disrespected a tournament of Duleep Trophy’s stature. He has apologised unconditionally. He is a young cricketer and we need to look at his career ahead. While I want him to give a written undertaking, I haven’t yet discussed with Mr Shah and Mr Scindia in this regard.” It is learnt that the selection committee is so peeved, that it will be difficult for the 28-year-old Gowtham to get the nod for the national teams in near future. Talking to The Times of India after the incident, BCCI CEO Rahul Johri had said, “Gowtham opted out of the Duleep Trophy game during the first match and even produced a medical certificate that he was unwell. Two days later, he was found playing in the Karnataka Premier League. This is gross insult to the system.” With PTI inputs