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Another official quits selection committee of Jammu Kashmir Cricket Association
Srinagar: Following the resignation of Dhruv Mahajan, one of the members of the Men’s Selection Committee, Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) received another blow in the form of Vidya Bhaskar, a member of the selection committee who offered his resignation from the post to the JKCA on Monday.
Vidya Bhaskar – former Ranji Trophy player – submitted his resignation to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), JKCA Administrator, CK Prasad and JKCA, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari.
Naming the “interference” of International Cricketer Irfan Pathan in the selection process as one of the main reasons for his resignation, Vidya Bhaskar told this reporter, that he was not comfortable doing the job under current circumstances. The reason given was that Irfan Pathan was playing a role in the decisions of the selection committee, which is against the rules set by BCCI.
“Irfan Pathan was interfering in the selection process, and he overruled our (selection committee's) decisions. This made it quite uncomfortable for me to carry out my job properly. That is why I stepped down,” he said and added, “If Irfan will interfere in our job and make our job very difficult then how can we work.”
Pertinently, Irfan Pathan has been assigned the twin roles of player and mentor within the JKCA for the domestic season of 2018-19.
However, the role of a mentor is not mentioned in the Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations of BCCI.
Moreover, as per Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations of BCCI, “No individual may occupy more than one posts at a single point of time” as the individual is then liable under ‘Conflict of Interest’ according to rule 38 of BCCI.
Vidya said that JKCA has failed to apply the rules and regulations set by Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Vidya Bhaskar quitted soon after another one of the selectors of Men’s Selection Committee, Dhruv Mahajan, stepped down from his post on Sunday.
Interestingly, Vidya cited the same reasons for his resignation as were quoted by Mahajan which raises eyebrows over the functioning of JKCA. Dhruv Mahajan was quoted as saying, “I don’t want to be part of such committees where I’m just a dummy and limited to sign only documents.”
According to our sources among JKCA officials, these resignations came in the wake of violations of Lodha Committee reforms which is approved by Supreme Court and accepted by BCCI as per the judgement dated 9th August 2018 which was passed by the Supreme Court of India (Civil Appeal No. 4235 of 2014 and concerned matters).
The official said that the discrimination policy adopted by the influential former skipper of Jammu and Kashmir Ranji Trophy team, Parvez Rasool also compelled selectors to quit their jobs.
“Basically, it is happening because of Parvez Rasool. Irfan Pathan is just a dummy of Parvez [Rasool]. He (Parvez) is dividing players on the basis of villages, towns, besides induct players in the playing XI on the basis of his personal biases of which Irfan Pathan is completely supporting him in doing so,” the official said.
When we contacted Parvez Rasool for his version he told that he cannot comment on that.
“Let them say whatever they want. It doesn’t bother me and I don’t want to talk on this issue,” he said.
Earlier in August, JKCA formed the Senior Selection Committee with four members- Syed Parvez Kaiser as Chairman of the committee with Zahoor Bhat, Vidya Bhaskar and Dhruv Mahajan as members respectively.
Most of them were ineligible for the job as they did not even qualify the prerequisite criteria as set up in rule 26(A) of Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations.
As per sources, Chairman of the Committee, Parvaiz Kaiser, an ineligible member for the job as per BCCI constitution, will likely resign in coming days as well.
When we tried to contact the CEO of JKCA, Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari, regarding the issue he didn’t answer the phone calls from this reporter even after repeated attempts.
Meanwhile, a Standing Committee member of JKCA, Shubham Lal Trakro told us that the reasons behind their resignations would be investigated and that the CEO is looking into the matter.
“We are holding meetings to ascertain the facts, and currently we have no proper knowledge of the situation behind their resignations."
"We will hold another meeting in which the members of selection panel who have submitted their resignations will also be called for attending the meeting,” he said.
Regarding following Lodha Committee reforms, he said that JKCA had formed the selection committee before the acceptance of final judgement on Lodha Committee reforms.
“We had formed the selection panel before 9 August 2018, the date on which the final judgement on Lodha Committee reforms was approved by Supreme Court and accepted by BCCI,” he said.
He, however, said, “We will go through the Lodha Committee reforms and see what options are available and if an individual doesn’t fall in the criteria set by BCCI then what other options can be followed.”
Also read: Cricket in Kashmir: A dangerous and beautiful game
