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Journalism of Courage
A day after the tainted cricketer Abhijit Kale appeared before a three-member Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) panel, the association chairman Balasaheb Thorve asked Kale and the selectors in question to ‘‘undergo lie-detector tests’’.
In a strong show of solidarity, the MCA came out in support of Kale, claiming him to be innocent of bribery charges. ‘‘The only way truth can come out is if both the selectors and Kale undergo lie-detector tests,’’ said Thorve.
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More selection woese’
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New Dehi, November 23: The selectors never had it so bad. Though this time there are no allegations of money involved but Himachal Pradesh batsman Rajiv Nayyar has blamed the state selectors for preferring ‘outsiders’ and sidelining the local players. After scoring 6601 runs in 92 first-class matches over a period of 16 years, Nayyar was dropped from the playing XI for the HP’s Plate Division league game against the Services. Nayyar hitting out at the state association president and selector Anurag Thakur said, ‘‘He’s packing the team with players from Punjab and Haryana and neglecting local players.’’ Explaining his point he said, ‘‘Punjab players like Sandeep Sharma, Amit Sharma, Vinod Minhas, Vishal Bhatia and Haryana’s Manvinder Bisla are there in the HP team at the cost of local talent.’’ Nayyar known for his world record breaking ‘longest individual innings’ of 271 (1015 minutes) against Jammu and Kashmir in 1999. Pakistan’s Little Master Hanif Mohammad had batted 970 minutes for his 337 against West Indies in 1958. Just before the season started Nayyar had top-scored in the game to select the Ranji probables.(ENS) Story continues below this ad |
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Continuing in a defiant vein, Thorve claimed Kale has been denied justice because he was suspended from playing cricket merely on the basis of allegations levelled by the selectors.
Thorve said it was also important to find out whether More was ‘‘trying to defame the MCA by making Kale a sacrificial goat’’ for not supporting his candidature as a West Zone selector at the BCCI AGM and rooting for Yajurvindra Singh instead. Interestingly, within hours of the scandal breaking on Thursday evening, the MCA had disowned Kale and withdrawn him from the Ranji team for the match against Saurashtra.
But obviously three days have made a big difference for now MCA is calling for a probe against the selectors — Kiran More and Pranab Roy too.
Thorve added that getting to the bottom of the matter was of utmost importance. He also alleged that More was ‘‘trying to defame the MCA by making Kale a sacrificial goat. The MCA is fully in favour of a BCCI inquiry, and will continue to lend moral support to Kale’’
Taking the legal recourse on behalf of Kale did not seem to find favour with Thorve. ‘‘It’s up to Kale to decide,’’ he said.
‘‘The selectors should take initiative in proving the charges they have levelled. The onus is now on them. Our (MCA’s) working committee will convene on Monday over the issue,’’ Thorve added. He seemed to be confused over the working of the MCA interim committee, which has only a managing committee, no working committee.
