Local cricket associations in overdrive after BCCI circular

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 13

With the Indian cricket board asking all the three local cricket bodies to submit their representations to the Committee of Administrators for seeking direct affiliation with BCCI, Chandigarh Cricket Association (affiliated to PCA), Chandigarh Cricket Association (affiliated to HCA) and UT Cricket Association (UTCA) went into overdrive on Friday, highlighting their past achievements to support their respective claims.

While UTCA president Sanjay Tandon accused the other two associations of not making efforts to get the BCCI affiliation for the city in the past two decades, Surinder Singh Baijee, secretary, Chandigarh Cricket Association (affiliated to Haryana), said the UTCA had been active from the past two years only and they had even failed to build the basic infrastructure for the game. 

Mahender Singh, secretary, Chandigarh Cricket Association (affiliated to Punjab), boasted of conducting tournaments for all age-groups and producing various national and international cricketers.

“Organising tournaments is the most important duty of any association and we are doing that without any interruption for the past many years. Now that we have been given a chance to claim our stakes, we will surely put forward our case,” said Mahender Singh. 

His claims were, though, trashed by Tandon. “What were they doing for the past 20 years? Their parent associations were directly affiliated to the BCCI and still they failed to get the affiliation for the city,” he pointed.

“Players from the city, which is known for providing world class facilities, were left in a lurch and forced to shift to other states. This undoubtedly is the harassment of players and we won’t allow that,” said Tandon. 

“For the past two years, we have been working step by step to get the BCCI affiliation for the city. Our association has only one aim --- the city should have its own Ranji team,” he said.

“The administration is committed to help us in future and we can bring international matches back to the Sector 16 cricket stadium,” Tandon mentioned.    

He also questioned the interest of the other two associations. “What interest do the associations from Haryana and Punjab have here that they are leaving their registered units to get a new affiliation,” he asked. 

“They have not even been able to get their associations affiliated to the UT Sports Department, which again is the biggest fraud committed on the local cricketers, and now they are seeking direct affiliation from the BCCI,” Tandon pointed. 

He also alleged that the local cricketers, who play from here, are not getting benefits of gradation policy.  

Baijee, meanwhile, said the UTCA had failed in its basic duties and had turned their focus to the game only in the past couple of years. 

“They are not even having a proper ground,” said Baijee. 

“They have failed to conduct tournaments. There have been no championships for junior as well as senior-level cricketers, which actually gives them a chance to perform. They have only organised a few corporate championships. On the other hand, we have a list of international players, which includes the likes of Kapil Dev, Chetan Sharma and Yograj Singh. We organise U-14, U-16, U-19 and U-23 championships every year,” Baijee pointed.

Baijee further said the association had even put forth its case before the BCCI officials in 2001. “Even in 2001, we had met the BCCI officials during their visit to the city and presented our case. Now that we have been given one more chance, we will do our best to get the affiliation.” 

As per sources, the Chandigarh Cricket Association (affiliated to Haryana) will submit its presentation through senior counsel and BCCI lawyer Puneet Bali. 

The body affiliated to Punjab is taking help from PCA officer bearers to put forth a strong case. 

A close fight on cards

If we consider the current situation, the UTCA is fighting against two associations, which have been running cricket activities here for the past many years. There is a strong possibility that BCCI might put the entire affiliation process on hold, said a BCCI source. In 2001, when both Chandigarh Cricket Association (affiliated to Punjab) and Chandigarh Cricket Association (affiliated to Haryana) had claimed stakes for running the sport in the city, the board had put the process on hold. No doubt that the UTCA will have a strong support from the local administration here, but the other associations will not let go things so easily, the source added.