After India’s loss to Pak, Athawale urges BCCI to push for quota in team

NAGPUR: After political and job reservations, Union minister of state for social justice and Republic Party of India leader, Ramdas Athawale, has now demanded quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Indian cricket team.

Athawale on Saturday said the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should provide reservations to SC and ST sportspersons in the cricket team to give equal opportunity in the international sport to the underprivileged section of the society.

Answering a question about the demand for probe into Indian cricket team’s defeat by Pakistan recently in the Champions Trophy final, Athawale said he was aghast the way the team lost by a huge margin to Pakistan. India had earlier defeated Pakistan in the tournament but the loss in the final left every Indian wondering if the match was fixed. The BCCI should investigate the matter and clear all doubts, he demanded.

The minister went further saying perhaps a quota for the SC and ST in the team would have ensured better performance. There was no harm in reserving 25% in these two categories, he said, adding that this could encourage players to do even better if they got chance to play at the national and international level.

Athwale also announced his party plan to organise protests on August 15 to pursue the demand of statehood for Vidarbha.