MPCA at loggerheads with BCCI?

INDORE:

Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association

(

MPCA

) seems to be at loggerheads with BCCI after its plea for replacement of players for scheduled tournaments under ‘exceptional cases’ has been rejected by the board. The state association has asked other state associations across the country to join hands to raise the issue against BCCI for its rigid attitude.

According to MPCA secretary Milind Kanmadikar, on February 5, MPCA requested BCCI for some fresh registrations of players citing practical aspects for upcoming tournaments, which will start within a week. However, the request was denied claiming that it should be done 15 days before the

tournament

.

“There is cut-off for registration process, which has to be completed 15 days prior to start of the tournament. Along with this rule, another provision also exists, which enables fresh registrations up to 48 hours before tournament under exceptional cases,” said Kanmadikar.

He added MPCA is experiencing rigidity of rule for the first time. Unless state body doesn’t object to it on record, the same rule could set precedence for future.

MPCA received a letter from BCCI on August 23, 2018, which spoke about cut-off dates for each tournament, but it nowhere mentioned that prevalent rule of BCCI (about fresh registrations being admitted up to 48 hours before the tournament under exceptional cases) was abolished. “We certainly do not know who has decided to abolish this provision unilaterally,” Kanmadikar told to TOI.

He said that now number of BCCI matches has increased due to which several times there is a replacement few days before tournament. While in many cases, injuries, academic needs like exams and personal requirements may require players to skip tournament.

In a refusal mail, BCCI officials claimed that they need time for scrutinizing documents of players, particularly for age group tournaments on which MPCA officials said the registration forms can be accepted while registration could be given effect after scrutiny.

MPCA claimed that it has been observed from events in recent past that the scrutiny of documents of all players does not take place before commencement of the tournament. Resultantly, there have been several players identified during the course of the season and action being taken by BCCI.

“The reason and concern given by BCCI is also not precise to deny late registrations,” said Kanmadikar.

“We have mailed an objection against BCCI’s refusal and have asked other associations to support us if they also face the same problem,” Kanmadikar told to TOI.

He said that there are certain rules and practices which BCCI relaxed whenever deemed fit and the same were honoured by associations. Quoting an instance, he said, “BCCI was not equipped with video recording facility due to which some matches were left without such recording, thus creating opportunities for doubts/objections related to suspect bowling action or little critical umpiring decision.”