Ahead of Vinoo Mankad Trophy, two BJP leaders queer Bihar cricket pitch: My crew vs your crew

WILL THE actual Bihar under-19 cricket crew please get up? The previous couple of weeks have seen two groups from the state taking guard, hoping to be a part of the BCCI’s season-opening Vinoo Mankad Trophy.
The confusion is a results of intense infighting between two teams, every headed by politicians related to the BJP, and each claiming to be representing the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA).
Former state BJP treasurer and BCA president Rakesh Tiwary says they’ve short-listed 135 junior gamers and can be naming the squad on September 14 after a camp. But that could be a bit too late, because the insurgent group, led by former MLA and state BJP spokesperson Prem Ranjan Patel, has already mailed the names of the ‘Bihar under-19 squad’ to the BCCI.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Tiwary, who had attended the final BCCI AGM, mentioned: “They (Patel) have nothing to do with the BCA, the players who went for their trials are not even registered by the BCA. They have no recognition, no office, and no official email address. When was their election held? Who are their members? There are people who just want to create nuisance.”
Rakesh Tiwary begins trials. Express photograph
However, Patel insists he’s the BCA president. “Last year, out of 38 districts, 28 had called an emergency meeting where we removed Tiwary from the BCA president’s post and nominated me as president of the association,” he says.
“We conducted selection trials and players from each district took part. We have been updating the BCCI about our activities. I’m BCA president, it’s my duty to conduct selection trials. We have sent the names and the BCCI has to decide what to do,” says Patel.
Asked concerning the standoff, BCCI secretary Jay Shah instructed The Indian Express the board “will look into the matter and we are not going to tolerate this kind of activity”.
Meanwhile, the choice course of to select the state junior facet has led to a present of political power. The poster for the state-level under-19 camp, put out by the Tiwary faction, was extra of a political invite and prominently featured Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad. Others on the poster included two state ministers, one MP and 4 MLAs.
Earlier this yr, the Bihar cricket physique had figured in one other controversy by holding a T20 league with out correct permission from the BCCI. Within a month of getting pulled up by the board, a bunch of BCA officers floated plans to conduct one other T20 match, and even introduced the dates earlier than the BCCI intervened. The board scuttled the proposed league and mentioned it will solely enable a non-franchise match in states with no non-public people as crew house owners.