Bishan Singh Bedi's absence from 500th Test BCCI's loss: Rajeev Shukla to India Today

IPL Chairman and Uttar Pradesh cricket boss Rajeev Shukla has said that, contrary to the reports, that he had invited Bishan Singh Bedi to join the felicitation ceremony organised for all former India captains at the sidelines of ongoing Kanpur Test. (Kanpur Test: Boult, Santner reduce India to 291/9 on Day 1)

"I sent him an email and even tried contacting him over phone on the number that I had but wasn't able to speak to him or get a response from him," Shukla told India Today after the end of first day's play in the first Test match between India and New Zealand at Green Park. (India's 500th Test: Proud to pass on the baton to GenNext, says Tendulkar)

Bedi, a known critic of BCCI, had said a few days ago that he has not been invited for the ceremony organised by the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association and BCCI to mark the historic 500th Test for Team India in
Kanpur. The ceremony at ground, where UP Governor honoured former India skippers before the start of play on Thursday, was preceded by a dinner event for all the former Test captains at the team hotel on Wednesday.

"I have huge respect for Bedi ji. As a student, I saw him hitting huge sixes at this very Green Park. How can we even think of not inviting him. It is our loss," Shukla added.

Former India captains Kapil Dev, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Ravi Shastri, Kris Srikkanth, Anil Kumble besides current leader Virat Kohli attended the dinner event.

"I am so happy that Ajit Wadekar, who arrived from Mumbai post midnight came to the ground and was honoured after match had started. It wasn't an easy thing for everyone to gather for this occasion as Kanpur is not very well connected flightwise. I am glad that most of them made it," said Shukla.