Won’t let players suffer: RCA

Mumbai Mirror Buereau

The Lalit Modi camp has reacted strongly to the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to leave out Rajasthan players from this year’s domestic cricket. Mehmood Abdi, deputy president of the Modi-headed Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), said the RCA will not allow the players to suffer.

“Putting ban on Rajasthan players in various categories of domestic cricketing is not only illegal but immoral as well simply for the reason that initially the BCCI sought to hoodwink the people by putting up the façade of the so-called adhoc committee which had never existed,” Abdi said yesterday.

He said his association will act responsibly. “Unlike the BCCI, the RCA is fully responsible for the development of the game and the careers Rajasthan cricketers which will never be allowed be harmed. Our selection process for various domestic tournaments is underway. The selected squads will be shortly announced,” Modi aide said.

Abdi said the BCCI’s measures are motivated public-relation exercises. “Everyday drumming the same old ban is a motivated public relations exercise. Same issues are circulated to the media like internal leaflets of the BCCI. It is just to create the impression as if the RCA is put to some further pressure and discomfort.”

He further said, “The BCCI did the ultimate on May 6 when it suspended the RCA on wholly illegal grounds. The fear is gone and now the RCA will respond with resounding vigour and strength through legal mechanism. Despite the ban, the activity calendar of the RCA is moving as scheduled and cricket is in full swing. Umpires’ and scorers’ conferences in Banswara and Dholpur were held as per schedule.”