Cricket pitch in Rajasthan is turning into a political battlefield, as the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) ad hoc committee has expressed serious concerns about the functioning of the State Sports Council. The committee has not only questioned the boycott of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Jaipur, but has also raised doubts over the recent unexpected disadvantage of Rajasthan Royals (for Lucknow super veterans) in a match, they were ready to win.
Committee chairman and BJP MLA Jaideep Bihani accused the foul play, suggesting that the match was lost under suspicious circumstances. “How did RR lose a match that they were winning? What message does it send to the young players of Rajasthan?” He asked.
Bihani accused the Rajasthan State Sports Council of working against the interests of the game bypassing the RCA and the government -appointed ad hoc committee from the IPL organization.
The ad hoc committee under the leadership of Bihani was formed by the state government to maintain and promote cricket activities in Rajasthan. Under its clock, many BCCI tournaments have been successfully hosted, and advanced sports features have been developed for young talents across the state. Given the strong track record of RCA, its exclusion has increased eyebrows from IPL operations.
Bihani also claimed that not only the RCA ad hoc committee was excluded from the IPL scheme, but its members were also denied recognition. Instead, Manyata was allegedly given to the Secretary of a District Cricket Association affiliated to RCA – one step Bihani intentionally called a conspiracy. In the previous IPL sessions, the RCA used to distribute the match pass to the Chief Minister’s Office, ministers, senior officials, dignitaries, district cricket associations and former players.
However, this year, the pass is allegedly handed over to individual contacts and preferred districts, which reduces the long role of RCA.
He said that alleged efforts are being made to destabilize the ad hoc committee by creating parallel bodies and by presenting its objective in a wrong way. “If the only role of the committee was to hold elections, why has the state government extended its term five times?” Bihani asked, confirming that the government is completely satisfied with the committee’s performance.
Citing the efforts of the previous accountability, he said that the ad hoc committee had organized a 368-page audit of the previous RCA executive body and even filed an FIR in Jyoti Nagar Police Station.
“If the Sports Council is so vigilant, why no action has been taken on that FIR?” He questioned.
Bihani also objected to the use of high-value ground equipment and employees of RCA for IPL matches without compensation. While Rajasthan Royals are allegedly renting the Sports Council for the use of Sarai Mansingh Stadium, RCA curator Toposh Chatterjee and other ground staff are maintaining pitch and facilities without any payment. Bihani called it a strategic effort to ignore the role of RCA in cricket operations.
He accused Rajasthan Royals Vice President Rajiv Khanna of deliberately trying to separate RCA from cricket matters. Although RCA has presented a list of its equipment to both Royals and Sports Council for reimbursement, no action has been taken so far.
On contact, Rajiv Khanna refused to comment on Bihani’s statements. He said, “I and Rajasthan Royals are working with the present and former state governments to successfully organize the IPL in Jaipur. I do not want to answer such comments or false allegations,” he said.
Finally, Bihani confirmed the contribution of the RCA Ed Hawk Committee to Cricket in Rajasthan and condemned the work of the Sports Council as unconstitutional and harmful for sports. “Let the game be a game – don’t pull it into conspiracies for personal or political interests,” he urged.
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