UTTARAKHAND CM ORDERS INQUIRY INTO JAFFER ROW

DEHRADUN: Amid the row following former India opener Wasim Jaffer’s resignation as Uttarakhand cricket coach with an office-bearer of Cricket Association of Uttarakhand (CAU) accusing him of “communal bias”, chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat ordered an inquiry on Monday. Rawat ordered the inquiry after meeting the officials of CAU at his residence here at the weekend.

Darshan Singh Rawat, media coordinator for CM, said: “On Saturday evening, CM had met a few officials of CAU at his residence who apprised him of the matter.

After listening to them, he ordered an inquiry in the whole matter. Once the inquiry report comes, he would take the required action.” He did not give details on who would conduct the inquiry.

The development comes after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s tweet on the episode. “In the last few years, hate has been normalised so much that even our beloved sport cricket has been marred by it. India belongs to all of us. Do not let them dismantle our unity,” he tweeted.

Jaffer resigned on February 8 citing “interference and bias of selectors and CAU officebearers in team selection and promoting non-deserving players.” He was appointed in June last year on a one-year contract.

Uttarakhand team manager Navneet Mishra alleged that Jaffer picked players based on their religion and created a communal atmosphere. CAU office-bearers distanced themselves from the allegations. When contacted, its secretary, Mahim Verma, said: “No such thing has come in front of me during camp or matches (allegations of communal bias).”

Jaffer refuted allegations of bias, saying “the communal angle brought in is very sad.”