SMAT | Shahrukh dropped from TN squad, sent home along with Pradosh and Andre

After a disastrous start, Tamil Nadu — a side considered a powerhouse in white-ball cricket — is theoretically out of the race for a berth in the second phase of the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The team, which had won won back-to-back titles in 2020-21 and 2021-22, is facing elimination in the group stage for the fourth year running.

The State senior selection committee has been forced to make a raft of changes. Pace-bowling all-rounder Sunny Sandhu and spin-bowling all-rounder Mohamed Ali, fresh off their exploits in Tamil Nadu’s BCCI under-23 State-A one-day trophy triumph a day earlier, were drafted into the squad on Tuesday,

Subsequently, on Thursday, Shahrukh Khan was dropped from the team and sent home following a poor run so far.

Batters Pradosh Ranjan Paul and Andre Siddarth, neither of whom featured in a single match, were also asked to return home. The decision raises the question of why they were selected in the first place.

It was only a few days before the tournament began that pace-bowling all-rounder R. Rajkumar was added to the squad as an afterthought. The constant rejigging reflects the turbulence in the Tamil Nadu dugout.