Following the criticism Supreme Court-led Committee of Administrators (COA) is facing from state cricket associations, one of committee’s members Ramachandra Guha has given a piece of advice to Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to rethink over the decision they took on March 3 when they said they’re going to boycott a BCCI event in Bengaluru.
“You have also insulted the awards themselves, and you have insulted all past awardees, including EAS Prasanna, GR Viswanath, BS Chandrasekhar, Syed Kirmani and all the greats from Karnataka that [KSCA secretary] Sudhakar Rao and you played with,” Guha was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.com.
On Friday, the KSCA categorically boycotted the MAK Pataudi Memorial lecture and the annual BCCI awards, scheduled in Bengaluru on March 8 (Wednesday).
“It may seem very rude or undiplomatic, however, looking at the last paragraph of your invitation, we would like to ascertain that we are also constrained not to acknowledge, thank or even remotely think of attending this function,” KSCA President Sanjay Desai and and KSCA secretary Sudhakar Rao stated in a two-page email as per ESPNcricinfo.
The renowned Indian historian and cricket writer Guha has stated the body would insult the awardees from Bengaluru if they’re refrained from participating in the event.
“You have thereby insulted the great cricketers who have won the award this year, including the Karnataka cricketer Shanta Rangaswamy, the first to get the woman’s award,” Guha added.
The 58-year-old Guha has suggested the KSCA to attend the function to honor former cricketers in order to send a positive message ahead of the reforms that would take place in the foreseeable future.
“Please do reconsider. Think of the message it will send – that KSCA hates reforms in cricket administration so much that it does not even wish to honour its own great cricketers,” ESPNcricinfo further quoted Guha’s email which was sent to KSCA.
The decision was taken by the KSCA when it was learnt the COA had invited eligible members of the state bodies for the occasion, according to the apex body orders.
“Do act like gentlemen and come join in the celebration of cricket and cricketers,” Guha added.
However, former Indian cricketer Farokh Engineer will deliver the fifth Pataudi lecture.
“Kindly note that the committee of administrators is constrained to convey that only those office bearers who are qualified as per the Supreme Court orders are expected to attend the function,” the invitation letter from BCCI CEO Rahul Johri stated earlier.
“Administrators and Cricketers who have contributed their time and energy and also have sacrificed immensely for the development of game over decades are being treated so shabbily by the Committee of Administrators as though all of them are of doubtful integrity,” Desai and Rao stated.