Dodgy choices, sexual harassment FIR and Bihar cricket rot

Here’s one apparent motive. The season that began with two under-19 groups coming into BCCI’s age-group event, each claiming to characterize the divided Bihar Cricket Association(BCA), has been marked by fixed chopping and altering. The recreation of musical chairs, the place 62 cricketers represented Bihar throughout tournaments, additionally noticed three coaches and a selector being modified inside months. There are different causes that aren’t so apparent. BCA president Rakesh Tiwary, a former state BJP treasurer, is on the heart of procedural wrongdoing and interference within the number of groups. Tiwary was additionally named in a sexual harassment FIR filed on the Parliament Street police station in Delhi by an proprietor of a participant administration agency.

The fees leveled towards Tiwary by his colleagues embody holding key choice conferences at his residence. Officials and coaches say those that did not toe Tiwary’s line had been proven the door.

Former Bihar first-class participant and coach Tarun Kumar says he put his foot down when Tiwary tried to affect the choice course of. “There would be frequent requests to accommodate relatives of bureaucrats, politicians, businessmen. Such requests would regularly be from Tiwary. As I didn’t agree, I was sacked. Some of the players for the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy were not even fit for club cricket,” Kumar mentioned.

When contacted, Tiwary mentioned the background of gamers was not a standards however cricketing benefit was. “We won’t play sons of bureaucrats and other such influential people just because their fathers are at an advantageous position,” Tiwary informed The Indian Express.

Nikhilesh Ranjan, a Bihar batsman from the Nineteen Nineties, changed Kumar for the 50-over event, the Vijay Hazare Trophy. After the primary two matches, Ranjan was demoted to assistant coach earlier than being sacked.

“In the third match, Pavan Kumar, my assistant, was made the pinnacle coach and I used to be made his assistant. About half-hour into the fourth match, the supervisor known as me whereas I used to be on the floor. He requested me to return to the resort, pack up and depart. Since there isn’t a secretary or joint secretary, the president is in cost,” Ranjan mentioned.

“In the recently concluded season, two reserve selectors were appointed apart from the three main selectors…this means the BCA was already aware that one of the three main selectors appointed would probably leave in between,” he mentioned.

According to Tiwary, the change in again room personnel was necessitated as a result of the coach was inflicting rifts within the crew.

“In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, of the 2 coaches despatched… there was a tussle between among the gamers and we discovered {that a} coach was concerned in incitement. The Ranji Trophy coach was discovered responsible in a really outdated case by the court docket of the Ethics Officer. However, we nonetheless appointed him. Later, somebody filed a petition within the court docket of the Ethics Officer and the court docket held that after it has deemed somebody responsible, how can he be appointed coach as soon as once more,” Tiwary mentioned.

What has additionally raised eyebrows is the excessive variety of gamers and standbys that represented Bihar this season. While this season’s Covid protocol allowed groups to call a 20-member squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Bihar picked 25, together with two reserves. Of them, 23 made it to the Playing XI, together with the 2 reserves. Typically three or 4 gamers are named as stand-by groups, however Bihar had 15 for the Vijay Hazare event and Ranji Trophy.

Since the beginning of the home season in September final 12 months, 62 senior cricketers have made it to the enjoying XI of Bihar throughout codecs. The corresponding numbers in established groups, like Mumbai and Karnataka, are 43 and 51, respectively. Those within the know say that extra gamers means extra folks may be obliged.

Kumar Arvind, former BCA joint secretary, claims that selectors had been summoned to Tiwary’s residence and crew lists had been modified. “Before the Vijay Hazare event, Tiwary known as the selectors to his residence and changed seven gamers. When I refused to signal, he ensured that I used to be out of BCA. This 12 months for each format there was a brand new coach,” he mentioned.

Arvind alleges that Ranjan and Tarun Kumar had been ousted as a result of coaches had been requested to play gamers who had paid cash and that those that disagreed had been eliminated.

Tiwary justifies the jumbo listing of gamers. “The humongous inhabitants of Bihar wants illustration. I had requested the coach and captain in regards to the many adjustments within the remaining Ranji recreation. I used to be informed since we had been out of rivalry, we tried a number of gamers,” he mentioned.

The allegation of sexual harassment towards Tiwary is linked to the BCA’s proposed T20 league and the arrest final 12 months of the president of Gurgaon-based Secure Corporate Management, Ashutosh Bora, and his sister Chitra, in an alleged “cash for selection” rip-off. Chitra, out on bail, has alleged that Tiwary molested her at a five-star resort in New Delhi.

Asked in regards to the FIR, Tiwary mentioned: “They are nonetheless, nothing has been proved but… I by no means entertained them. I’m harmless.” When contacted, a senior officer of Delhi Police said: “Tiwary was booked under sections of sexual assault. No arrest has been made so far in the case. We are investigating the matter.”

Last 12 months, the BCCI needed to intervene within the BCA’s choice issues after a turf conflict between Tiwary and a insurgent group led by former MLA and state BJP spokesperson Prem Ranjan Patel. The Board had additionally pulled up BCA for internet hosting the inaugural Bihar Cricket League (BCL) with out its permission.