No communication from BCCI on IPL tie: HPCA

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, April 21

Cricket has once again come to the political centre stage in the state. In the past few days cricket has blurred political lines and leaders of both BJP and the Congress are being seen on rival sides. Cricket is also leading to washing of dirty linen in the open.

On a visit to Tanda Medical College on Tuesday Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in the presence of BJP MP from Kangra Shanta Kumar had launched a blistering attack on the HPCA and Anurag Thakur. He alleged that Rs 125 crores received by the HPCA from the BCCI in the last five years has been used for the development of a family rather than for promoting cricket in the state.

He said the state government was not against the HPCA if the democratic process was restored in the cricket body and it did not remain in the control of a few persons, obviously targeting Anurag Thakur.

The very next day a statement is issued by the Congress MLA from Dharamsala and Minister for Urban Development Sudhir Sharma that an IPL cricket match would be organized here on May 7. As per the statements issued by the minister the owner of Punjab Kings XI Preity Zinta called the Chief Minister and invited him for the match. In all likelihood the CM would be coming to Dharamsala cricket stadium for the match between Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils.

Ironically, the HPCA officials are saying that they do not have information regarding the match being held at Dharamsala on May 7. The PRO of the HPCA, Sanjay Sharma, while talking to newsmen here today, said till date there was no communication from either the BCCI or the IPL governing body that the cricket match would be held at Dharamsala.

He also launched a veiled attack on Shanta Kumar. Sanjay Sharma said that if it was being alleged that the HPCA got land on Rs 1 lease from the state government, there were other institutions in Himachal that had got land on lease for Rs 1 from the state government. He was making a veiled attack on Vivekanand Health Institute at Palampur that is run by the trust headed by Shanta. Why the state government was not investigating the matter of such land deals, Sanjayasked. He alleged that the cricket club in Rohru, headed by the CM’s son, also got donations and thegovernment should inquire into it.