20 February,2021 06:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Harit Joshi
Lalchand Rajput
Lalchand Rajput, the chairman of the Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC), has hit back at the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for their decision to dissolve the committee on the basis of conflict of interest.
Rajput, currently in Zimbabwe to coach their national team, suspected "malicious" intentions in dismantling the CIC after Ramesh Powar was appointed Mumbai's coach against MCA-recommended candidate Amol Muzumdar.
MCA secretaries Sanjay Naik and Shah Alam Shaikh on Thursday shot off a letter (a copy of which is with mid-day that isn't signed by them) stating that the CIC was dissolved.
"I am shocked and surprised to receive the above email sent purportedly by the secretaries. Since the inception of CIC on August 20, 2020, we have acted and taken decisions within the framework of powers and duties given to CIC. I suspect that action of removing CIC is clearly done with the malicious mind to humiliate cricketers since the attempt by secretaries to appoint coach of Mumbai against CIC recommendation failed," Rajput said in his email to MCA president Dr Vijay Patil and his Apex Council members.
Rajput said the exact nature of conflict of interest was not specified in the letter. "It is mentioned in [the] email that the desolation of CIC is being done on [the] reason of conflict of interest. However, you have not specified the exact conflict which the CIC or individual members of CIC suffers from," Team India's World T20-winning coach asked.
Rajput and CIC member Sameer Dighe had made conflict of interest closures at the time of their appointments.
Rajput countered the secretaries' claim that the MCA general body had authorised the Apex Council to decide CIC's fate. He also asked how the MCA Apex Council passed on the authority to the office-bearers.
The former India batsman stepped out to tackle the conflict of interest issue. "If [the] CIC is removed illegally and in contravention of constitutional provisions, then there are Apex Council members who are suffering from direct conflict of interest. Kindly inform me the action you or the Apex Council have taken against members," Rajput stated.
"I, on behalf of members of CIC, have to state that the action of removing CIC is a blatant disregard to the provisions of the constitution. Therefore, [an] email should be asked to be withdrawn immediately and the honour of cricketers who have represented MCA and India at [the] national and international level for years [should be] restored. Therefore, in the interest of Mumbai cricket, either withdraw the mail sent by secretaries or reply this email with required proof," concluded Rajput.
Meanwhile, Mumbai begin their 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy in Jaipur tomorrow.
