Sport - Cricket

KCA treasurer resigns

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) treasurer, A. Salim, has tendered his resignation in view of the case charged against the Association by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB).

Mr. Salim faxed his resignation to the KCA president, T.R. Balakrishnan from his residence in Kollam on Saturday evening and in a press statement said that he was taking the extreme step to ensure a free and fair inquiry by the VACB.

“As a former president of the KCA and to continue with the highest tradition of the KCA, my resignation is to ensure a fair and free inquiry and to get the good name of the KCA restored at the earliest.”

“I have asked the KCA president to relieve me from my post with immediate effect.”

Later talking to The Hindu over phone, Mr. Salim said he had taken the decision to quit office on his own. “It is a decision taken after a lot of thought. The public perception about the KCA has taken a beating among the public at large and that now a case has been registered against the Association, I thought it fit to resign immediately.”

Mr. Salim said that he had a clear conscience and that he had discharged his duties as KCA treasurer only as per the decisions of the central council and general body of the Association. He said that he has asked the KCA president, in his resignation letter, to convene a special meeting of the KCA general body at the earliest so as to discuss the various factors which led to the VACB filing the case against the Association.

“We need to take corrective measures and since the issue is quite serious, I think that we should all put our heads together to find solutions to overcome the grave crisis.”

Mr. Salim, who was instrumental in appointing an internal audit committee, the findings of which was what led to the current impasse, said his only regret was his failure to help the KCA implement a proper financial code. “However, the draft of such a code is ready and I think that it would be implemented at the earliest.”

Asked whether his resignation was a ploy to force the other key office-bearers to quit office in wake of the case, Mr. Salim was emphatic that nothing should be read into his resignation.

“The whole of the cricket community in Kerala knows me very well and my contributions to enhance the game of cricket in the State through the last two decades. It is purely a personal decision driven by my own conscience. Nothing else should be read into it,” Mr. Salim added.

Mr. Salim is the third accused in the case filed by the VACB, while the KCA secretary, T.C. Mathew and the KCA president are the first and second accused. — Special Correspondent

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