Cops make a mockery of BCCI norms at Green Park?
LUCKNOW Apparently making a mockery of the BCCI’s domestic match policy, some Kanpur police officials were on Wednesday allegedly allowed to ‘practice’ on one of the pitches earmarked for the hosts Uttar Pradesh and visitors Goa on the eve of their Ranji Trophy match.
Eyewitnesses, as well as a video being widely shared on the social media, showed senior police officers batting on the pitch in violation of the Indian cricket board’s norms as the authorities concerned allegedly stood as mere onlookers.
The video also showed the officials being helped to don leg guards and batting gloves by their subordinates
People familiar with the matter said the stadium officials allowed the police personnel to enter the arena.
“Stadium bosses feel honoured to oblige police and other officials even at the cost of rules and regulations,” an UPCA official said on condition of anonymity.
As per BCCI rules, the match venues remain under the purview of the match referee 24 hours before a domestic match. No one, other than the participating teams, can use the ground during this period.
The Green Park Stadium is a state government property leased to the UP Cricket Association but the UPCA said it was not aware of the breach of norms.
Anil Kamthan, the UPCA’s nodal officer for the stadium, said, “We didn’t allow anyone to play even on the practice wicket and we are not even aware of such a thing.”
Sources indicated the match referee for the UP-Goa tie must have taken the cognizance of the happening and would mention it in his report to the BCCI.
UPCA’s secretary Yudhveer Singh too expressed ignorance about the incident, but promised to look into the issue.
“I am not aware about any such incident, but I will see that how is actually responsible for this fault,” he said.
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