1983 world cupper Balwinder Singh Sandhu livid over Mumbai Cricket association's decision to disqualify him from elections because his nomination was received late
1983 world cupper Balwinder Singh Sandhu livid over Mumbai Cricket association's decision to disqualify him from elections because his nomination was received lateThe run-up to the July 15 Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) polls is getting murkier with each passing day. Former Test players and Mumbai stalwarts Balwinder Singh Sandhu and Karsan Ghavri are livid that their club nominations to fight the elections were not accepted by the MCA (as reported first by MiD DAY on Friday).
Karsan GhavriThe MCA did not accept the duo's nomination as they were submitted 15 minutes late from the scheduled time of 5 pm, according to the officials. The MCA had set June 14 as the final date for submission of names of the club representatives. The managing committee decided to alter the cut-off time from 7 pm to 5 pm and a circular to affiliated clubs was sent.
Former Test swing bowler, Balwinder Singh Sandhu Unfair"This is very unfair. We have given our sweat and blood for Mumbai cricket. We have toiled hard for the development of Mumbai cricket and this is the kind of treatment they mete out to cricketers. I am very disappointed. For the first time, I feel unwanted in a place where I have grown up," said Sandhu, who is vying for the vice-president's post. He has now decided to take the legal route.
Apart from being members of victorious Mumbai Ranji Trophy teams, Ghavri and Sandhu coached Mumbai to Ranji Trophy triumphs in 1993-94 and 1996-97. Ghavri was late in submitting his nomination from Dilip Vengsarkar Foundation.
According to 9B of MCA's rules and regulations, "any change in the name and address of representative shall be communicated in writing to the Joint honorary secretaries of the association. Such intimation shall be delivered at the office during office hours (7pm)."
When MiD DAY called Lalchand Rajput, the MCA's joint honorary secretary, his tone was anything but polite. "Why should we clarify anything to you people (the media). The managing committee has all the powers to take decisions. So, they have passed a resolution with regards to the change in time. We have also intimated all the 350 clubs about the timings well in advance."u00a0 Meanwhile, Sandhu alleged that politicians put pressure on Khalsa College authorities to drop him as their representative. "This incident has taught me that never trust politicians, even if they are big names. If they can treat former Test cricketers like this then God help the current and future Mumbai cricketers.
"This is the first time I am standing for elections. I have always supported good people. They are doing this because we are supporting a cricketer (Dilip Vengsarkar, who is standing for the president's post). It looks like the politicians are scared of cricketers," said the 1983 World Cup-winning member, who finally filed his nomination fromu00a0 Chowgule Cricket Club.
Ghavri, who hopes to be voted on the managing committee, said: "It looks like only cricketers are being targetted. Politicians should not stoop so low. Let it be a fair game for all. This is no way to treat cricketers, especially for sending entries only 15 to 20 minutes late. I hope they resolve the issue but if that does not happen, we will have no option but to go to court."
Nadim Memon, a former managing committee member and Wankhede curator from 2000 to 2003, said: "It is a mystery how the time was altered. To change the MCA rules one has to go by the general body as mentioned in 31E. The managing committee has powers to decide only on Election Bye-Laws. So, a general body's consent was necessary in this case."
