Seniors deserve better farewell, says Pillay
Mona Parthsarathi
New Delhi, Oct 10 (PTI) Terming Sourav Ganguly’s exit from international cricket as “unfortunate” and “sad”, former hockey skipper Dhanraj Pillai today said senior players in any sport deserved better treatment and respect from its countrymen.
Pillay was deeply “hurt” by the way Ganguly was treated as the episode reminded him of his own unceremonious exit from the Indian team.
“I feel really hurt when a senior player is treated like this. It is unfortunate. We have given our heart and soul for the game. Don’t we deserve a better farewell,” said Pillay.
“Senior player is next to coach. In our country people remember one bad performance and forget past nine good shows. They constantly criticise you which is wrong. Same happened with me and now with Sourav. Despite playing well after the comeback, he was compelled to announce retirement. It is sad,” he added.
“I have experienced this. I have been thrown out of the team when I was in-form and cent percent fit also. I had couple of years of international hockey left in me. I am still playing in domestic circle,” said the mercurial striker, only Indian player to participate in four Olympics and same number of World Cups. PTI