The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednesday announced a two-year ban on journalist Boria Majumdar as a consequence of a controversy involving threatening messages he sent to veteran cricketer Wriddhiman Saha, reported ANI.

Earlier this year, Saha had shared screenshots on social media of a chat warning him that he would not be interviewed in the future because he had not returned the journalist’s calls about committing to an interaction. Saha had not named the journalist publicly. But in an enquiry by the BCCI, the keeper-batter revealed it was Majumdar.

On grounds of humanity, not naming journalist for the time being: Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha

On Wednesday, the BCCI announced that it had considered the arguments from both parties and decided that the messages from Majumdar to Saha were indeed threatening in nature and the journalist would receive a two-year ban for them.

In its memo to BCCI members, signed by interim CEO Hemang Amin, the board said the following sanctions would be imposed:

  • A two-year ban on getting any accreditation as a member of the press to any cricket matches (domestic and international) in India;
  • A two-year ban on getting any interview with any registered players in India;
  • A two-year ban on access to any of BCCI and members associations owned cricket facilities.

Earlier in March, Majumdar had denied Saha’s allegations and instead said his lawyers would send a defamation notice to the cricketer.

Does journalist Boria Majumdar have a credible defamation claim against cricketer Wriddhiman Saha?

“There are always two sides to a story,” he said. He denied threatening Saha. “At no point did I cross the line,” he said.

Majumdar said that he had sent the texts to express “disappointment” towards Saha’s “unprofessional behaviour” for not showing up for an interview after promising to do so.

Saha, who had been dropped from the Indian team for the Test series against Sri Lanka, had received a lot of support from former India cricketers including the likes of Ravi Shastri and Virender Sehwag.

On 25 February 25, the BCCI had formed a three-member committee to look into this case, which comprised BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla, BCCI treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal and BCCI councillor Prabhtej Singh Bhatia.