Jimmy dropped as selector,gift to Oz may have angered BCCI

Mohinder Amarnath had presented a bat to Cricket Australia for their museum.

While BCCIs decision to not renew north zone selector Mohinder Amarnaths contract may not have come as a surprise,the reason behind the snub was rather unusual.

This (dropping Amarnath) is the decision of BCCI and one cannot go into reasons. But a possible reason could be that the BCCI wanted a new-look selection committee, Board president N Srinivasan said.

It is learnt that an incident during Indias tour of Australia in 2011-12 may have played a major role in Amarnaths contract not being extended.

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Amarnath had presented a bat belonging to his father Lala Amarnath to James Sutherland,Cricket Australia CEO,reportedly telling him that the memorabilia would be treasured more by CA than by BCCI.

Yes,I presented the bat to Cricket Australia for their museum, Amarnath confirmed to The Indian Express. The former player refused to comment on whether the incident was behind the boards rebuff.

Those on the touring party say the incident triggered the rift between Amarnath and the board,which is in the process of setting up a cricket museum.

We were aware of the incident and it did not go down too well with us. We have ambitious plans for our own museum and this piece of memorabilia would have been more suited here, said a member of the board.

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The BCCI has been in touch with curators from Lords,and land and funds for the museum have already been allocated.

The board member said,We have received complaints that Amarnath did not do enough for north associations.