Bihar Cricket Association Names Two Teams For Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) found itself in a new mess after the two warring factions led by president Rakesh Tiwary and secretary Sanjay Kumar announced separate squads for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, starting January 10. (More Cricket News)

BCCI has been dragging its feet on appointing an observer for Bihar for quite sometime. The BCCI's Apex Council had recommended the appointment of an observer to handle Bihar's messy situation but neither president Sourav Ganguly nor secretary Jay Shah have acted.

It is understood that the BCCI top brass is aware of the situation and will decide in the next couple of days as to which of the two teams will be officially allowed to represent Bihar in the National T20 meet.

Bihar CA, which has been in administrative mess for the longest time, saw president Rakesh Tiwary's faction release a 20-member squad led by Ashutosh Aman, while secretary Sanjay Kumar's camp also released a team that has Keshav Kumar as captain. There are no common players in both squads.

Interestingly, original IPL petitioner Aditya Verma's son Lakhan Raja has been named vice-captain of the team sent by secretary's faction.

When president Tiwary was asked about two teams, he said: "This is a non-issue. The BCCI provided us with ODMS software password which is used for registration of players. 30 rooms are booked by BCCI in Chennai bio-bubble as per list sent by us. The secretary's team is a fake one."

He then said that secretary Kumar had been suspended by the Apex Council for anti-association activities.

"Eight members of the Apex Council had signed a letter dismissing Kumar from his post. He has no locus standi. He has put his own son Shivam Sanjay Kumar in the team along with Verma's son Lakhan Raja," Tiwary said.

Kumar on his part wrote a letter to BCCI president Ganguly and secretary Shah alleging that outgoing GM (Cricket Operations) Saba Karim provided the registration pass code.

"Saba Karim misused his position as GM (Cricket Operations) and illegally changed the credentials of the ODMS for player registration of BCA and providing it to a person he favours," Kumar wrote in a letter.

Verma, who is also the secretary of Cricket Association of Bihar,  on his part said that Bihar cricket is going through its worst crisis.

"Bihar cricket is being run by mafias. The BCCI should sent a team of observers who can conduct trials," Verma said.

However, he didn't wish to comment on his son Raja being selected in Kumar's team as vice-captain.

In fact Tiwary raised questions about Raja's credentials as a cricketer. "Lakhan Raja's performance came under scanner after last year's Ranji game and a probe was conducted. He has vested interests," Tiwary claimed.

Verma further added: "Sourav Ganguly had himself taken the responsibility to sort out the problems in Bihar but he has disappointed not only the officials but also the players who looked up to him. It is sad that Dada has been completely ineffective." (With inputs from PTI)