Date:12/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/12/stories/2008121256391800.htm

Sport - Cricket

KCA is back in news

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After allegations of widespread corruption which had forced the Vigilance Court, Thrissur, to order an inquiry into its activities last month, the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) was back in the news again for the wrong reasons on Thursday.

Six players registered with the Kannur District Cricket Association under the banner of the Thalassery Players’ Forum staged a symbolic hunger strike in front of the KCA complex here alleging that undue favouritism was behind the selection of the State teams in the various age-groups.

Peaceful strike

The hunger strike went off peacefully unlike the situation when over 30 players of six clubs from Alappuzha staged a sit-in before the KCA complex, in protest against the suspension of their clubs prior to the elections in the ADCA, and were forcibly arrested and removed by the police.

The six players sat outside the complex from 11.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. before dispersing on their own.

Speaking to reporters on behalf of the protesting players, former State junior player, C.O.T. Nazir said that Thursday’s action was just a symbolic affair. “We are just giving the KCA officials another chance to correct themselves. If they fail to do so, we shall be back to intensify our efforts to bring the matters over selection and other issues currently plaguing the game in the State before the public eye.

Glaring omissions

Nazir said the way in which S. Anish (Pathanamthitta), the spinner who had played in the last year’s Duleep Trophy, was eased out of the Ranji Trophy team was a case in point. So was the omission of C.P. Shahid, a left-arm spinner.

In the under-19 category, the North Zone representative, N.P. Sandeep has publicly stated that several players were included in the State team without his knowledge.

The shocking omissions in this section have been Mohammed Favaz and Monish Jayan. While none of the KCA officials were present at the KCA complex, the KCA president, T.R. Balakrishnan when contacted told The Hindu over phone that he was unaware of the allegations of favouritism.

“I am yet to receive any complaint, but still will take up the issue for discussion during the next Central Council of the KCA.”