Harsha Bhogle tweets about attitude of emerging cricket nations, Scotland players take exception

There has been a rekindling of the debate surrounding whether associate nations are given enough exposure at the top level by the ICC, on the back of emotional speeches by Scotland captain Preston Mommsen and Netherlands captain Peter Borren, after the respective teams’ exits from the World T20.

Scotland captain Mommsen said after the Zimbabwe defeat that every time an associate nation comes out to play, their players are playing for recognition, funding, and a place in cricket’s upper echelons. He had bemoaned that these countries’ teams were never afforded the luxury of a bilateral series.

Harsha Bhogle tweeted his thoughts reflecting on larger truths, but his comments did not go down well with cricketers, most noticeably from the Scottish team.

Mommsen himself replied indignantly, and his Scottish teammates joined in to support their captain:

George Munsey took Bhogle’s tweet as an affront to the fighting spirit of the Scottish to get recognition in the cricketing world. Matt Machan went to the extent of comparing Scotland’s plight to India’s – while one team struggles to get enough matches, the other complains of a schedule which is too packed.

However, as can be seen from what Bhogle clarified in a longer Facebook post very soon, his stance had not been anti-emerging nations at all. He had only been saying that the attitude needs to remain positive. The Facebook post:

My posts on twitter need a longer explanation. I am, and will always be, a supporter of taking cricket to further...

Posted by Harsha Bhogle on Friday, March 11, 2016

I completely understand the thoughts of the Associates but sometimes it doesn't help to live with negativity (more)

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 12, 2016

You can either moan about how little you have or you can make the most of whatever you have. For the hungry, opportunity resides everywhere

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 12, 2016

'Opportunity resides everywhere' - Absolutely bamboozled by ur views @bhogleharsha. Do not question the hunger! https://t.co/TlFhpeIcX9

— Preston Mommsen (@PrestonMommsen) March 12, 2016

@PrestonMommsen Preston, was a wider thought. But my views are in more detail on facebook. Have always supported the emerging nations.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 12, 2016

@PrestonMommsen @bhogleharsha "I'm in strong favour of associates" ur words an hour ago.... Now questioning our hunger? We never stop #pride

— George Munsey (@GeorgeMunsey) March 12, 2016

@PrestonMommsen @bhogleharsha wherent the India team recently complaining because they played TOO much cricket??

— Matt Machan (@mattmachan) March 12, 2016