Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Kaif questions BCCI failure to appoint CoE sports science head
Cricket is a sport played with a bat and ball, and sometimes players get hurt.
Right now, several top players on India's cricket team are injured, including Jasprit Bumrah.
A special place called the Centre of Excellence helps players get better and reach their best.
But that centre does not have a leader for its sports science department.
A famous former player, Mohammed Kaif, said this is surprising.
He thinks the cricket board has so much money that it could easily hire the best doctors from anywhere in the world.
Another former player, VVS Laxman, said it is not easy because one expert changed his mind at the last minute to be with his family.
Laxman also reminded everyone that players are not machines and need time to heal.
The injured players were preparing to play a two-Test series against Sri Lanka.
Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif questioned why the BCCI has not appointed a sports science head at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru amid an ongoing injury crisis.
Injured players Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep and B Sai Sudharsan are missing the two-Test series against Sri Lanka.
Kaif said the BCCI pays so well that world-class physiotherapists and medical professionals would be eager to work with it.
The Centre of Excellence has struggled to find a successor to Nitin Patel as head of sports science.
VVS Laxman said the CoE nearly appointed Andrew Leipus, who backed out at the last moment due to family reasons, and defended the centre as more than a rehab facility.
- Who
- Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif, who criticised the BCCI, and VVS Laxman, head of the Centre of Excellence, who defended it.
- What
- Kaif questioned why the BCCI has not appointed a sports science head at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru despite the team's injury crisis and the board's financial resources.
- When
- Not specified in the articles.
- Where
- Bengaluru, India — the BCCI's Centre of Excellence; the affected players were due to face Sri Lanka in a two-Test series.
- Why
- Kaif believes the BCCI's money and lucrative contracts should easily attract the world's best medical professionals to help injured players recover.
Critics of the BCCI
BCCI and Centre of Excellence defence
Hiring sports science staff
Critics of the BCCI
The BCCI has so much money and offers such good contracts that the world's best physiotherapists and medical professionals would come running; failing to appoint a sports science head is surprising.
BCCI and Centre of Excellence defence
The CoE came close to appointing Andrew Leipus, but he backed out at the last moment for family reasons, so recruitment is not simply a matter of money.
Role of the Centre of Excellence
Critics of the BCCI
The CoE has struggled to help injured athletes recover on time amid a major injury crisis affecting top players.
BCCI and Centre of Excellence defence
The CoE is not just a rehab centre but helps cricketers achieve excellence, and athletes are not machines who can be rushed back.
- Criticism
- BCCI has not appointed a sports science head at the Centre of Excellence
- Vacant role
- Head of Sports Science (successor to Nitin Patel)
- Injured players
- Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, B Sai Sudharsan
- Upcoming series
- Two-Test series against Sri Lanka
- Centre of Excellence location
- Bengaluru
- Head of Centre of Excellence
- VVS Laxman
- Near appointment
- Andrew Leipus, who backed out for family reasons