JKCA fight continues, two teams land in Dharamsala

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, October 8

The fight between the two factions of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, it seems, won’t end anytime soon. Claiming to be the original JKCA squad, two teams landed in Dharamsala on Thursday morning for Ranji Trophy match against Himachal Pradesh.

The BCCI observer allowed the team named by Iqbal Ansari, J&K Sports Minister, to take the field, leaving the other side, named by Farooq Abdullah, crying foul.

Rajiv Pandita, the manager of the squad named by Abdullah, accused the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) of being biased against them. “We were not allowed to enter the stadium even though the Jammu and Kashmir High Court recognises us as the JKCA’s official team,” said Pandita, producing copies of the court order to support his claim.

“We had reached the stadium at 7am but HPCA the official didn’t allow us to enter the ground, citing some BCCI rules,” said Pandita.

The HPCA officials, when contacted, said they had nothing to do with the episode. They put the ball in the BCCI’s court, saying it was the prerogative of the board to decide which team will play in case there’s a dispute.

With the BCCI observer allowing the Iqbal Ansari- named team to take the field, it’s quite clear which faction the board is supporting. Against the backdrop, it remains to be seen for how long Abdullah faction could keep sending their teams to different venues.