Now, AGA office-bearers, ex-players at loggerheads over team selection

AMRITSAR: The tussle between the former reputed cricketers and the office-bearers of the Amritsar Games Association (AGA) resulted into an argument over the selection of an Under-19 team during a practice match at the cricket ground here on Sunday.

Arguments go on between AGA office-bearers and former players on Sunday. Photo: Sunil kumar

Charanjit Singh Teja
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 24

The tussle between the former reputed cricketers and the office-bearers of the Amritsar Games Association (AGA) resulted into an argument over the selection of an Under-19 team during a practice match at the cricket ground here on Sunday. The selectors, who are members of the AGA, have selected a team while the former players have selected their separate team.

The former cricketers, include selector Harvinder Singh and Chandar Madan, head of operations said they had been authorised by the Deputy Commissioner so no one could finalise the team without their consent. They had arguments with AGA secretary Pardeep Saini.

“We did not sign any of the list prepared by the AGA office-bearers. We don’t even know the players. They are from the private academy being run by one of the AGA office-bearers. We will discuss the matter with the Deputy Commissioner,” said Harvinder Singh, who has played for the Indian squad in international cricket matches around two decades ago.

Pardeep Saini said, “The cricket committee has conducted a trial to select the team. They have selected the players. Let the list of both the selectors come to me. I will take the final decision. We will sort out the matter.”

The AGA office-bearers and former cricketers have been at loggerheads for long as the latter accuses the former of resorting to irregularities while the former rubbishes the allegations, claiming that the ex-cricketers want their supremacy on the AGA. On Friday, over 20 players of national and international repute had come forward against AGA secretary Pardeep Saini at a press conference and accused the office-bearers of “misusing” their power. On Saturday, Amritsar Games Association (AGA) secretary Pardeep Saini refuted the allegations and alleged that players had distorted the facts. He alleged that Harvinder Singh and Madan wanted to get control of the AGA, so they were distorting the facts. Saini also announced that the body would conduct its elections soon. Now, the former players claimed that they will intensify the struggle for the betterment of the cricket in the city.