CAL meet ends in smoke amid uproar
LUCKNOW: Cricket went for a toss on Thursday as the muchawaited meeting of the Cricket Association Lucknow (CAL) to start the new season from October 1 not only witnessed uproar but ended without any decision on it.
All clubs and affiliated units of CAL forced the officials to adjourn the meeting after a marathon two-hour discussion and uproar as they wanted an early annual general meeting and also the implementation of reforms suggested by the Lodha panel in the BCCI’s new rules and regulations.
The CAL at its meeting on September 17, 2017 decided to conduct the AGM as well as other activities within one year but this didn’t happen allegedly for different reasons and this irked the clubs/units at Thursday’s meeting.
UP Cricket Association’s one of the oldest body, CAL conducted its last election meeting in 2005 and since then its officebearers have allegedly delayed the process. Somehow they were forced to conduct a meeting last year in which it was decided to let the same committee continue for one more year.
Clubs/units also raised their objection over A division league not taking place last season. “How the CAL could announce the new edition of the league when the old one has not been conducted so far,” asked a club official.
“Yes, today’s meeting was adjourned as people had their reservations over some issues. We will soon convene a meeting of office bearers to decide the date of the AGM and only then a decision of annual cricket league would be taken,” CAL’s secretary KM Khan said.
Other issues which club/units raised at Thursday’s meeting included an additional charge of Rs 10,000 for fielding the second team in league by a club.
On this issue, the CAL office
THE CAL AT ITS MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2017 DECIDED TO CONDUCT THE AGM AS WELL AS OTHER ACTIVITIES WITHIN ONE YEAR BUT THIS DIDN’T HAPPEN ALLEGEDLY FOR DIFFERENT REASONS AND THIS IRKED THE CLUBS/UNITS AT THURSDAY’S MEETING
bearers looked divided and even chief administrative officer Ashok Bombi was in its favour, secretary KM Khan reversed the order then and there.
“It was an arbitrary decision and I cancelled it at today’s meeting,” said Khan, refusing to accept that he too had given his consent for the same. “It was Bombi’s decision alone,” he said.
‘NO TO REFORMS’
In fact, the clubs/units appear uncertain for any reforms in the game as it seems that the ‘money making business’ of many clubs and academies on the name of cricket would come to an end if the reforms were implemented.
The reforms included the nonparticipation of outsiders in local cricket.
Many clubs/academies are reportedly charging hefty monthly fee from trainees, including the outsiders, and with the reforms they would see a marked decrease in their income.
“Yes, we get good money from outsiders as they avail hostels and other facilities here,” said an insider of an academy based in old Lucknow area.
“There are some clubs/units, who want cricket at no cost. They have been a nuisance in the game and don’t want to pay anything but want everything for free,” said Bombi, who is even mulling over quitting the cricket body after Thursday’s incident.