New Delhi, Aug 10:
VVS Laxman has defended the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru amid growing scrutiny over the number of injuries affecting Indian cricketers, insisting that the facility’s role extends well beyond rehabilitating injured players.
The CoE has come under the scanner following a series of injuries that have disrupted India’s plans, with questions being raised over rehabilitation timelines, fitness assessments and coordination between the sports science department and national selectors.Laxman, who heads the facility, rejected the perception that the CoE should be treated simply as a rehabilitation centre.“CoE is not a rehab centre. There’s a bigger responsibility and mandate given by the BCCI,” Laxman said during a press conference in Bengaluru.
He also acknowledged that the facility has struggled to fill its Head of Sports Science and Medicine position following the departure of Nitin Patel.
Laxman revealed that several high-profile candidates had been considered for the position but withdrew from the process for different reasons, including relocation and family commitments.
“After Nitin left, we couldn’t fill his shoes,” he said, adding that the BCCI wants a full-time professional who can provide day-to-day monitoring rather than work merely as a consultant.