Lalchand Rajput, chairman of the Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC), has reprimanded the Apex Council members of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for unfairly using the name of Sachin Tendulkar in referencing to select or appoint coaches and other supporting staff members.
MCA has sought applications for coaches, selectors, trainers, and physiotherapists for Mumbai state teams across age- groups. Rajput wrote an email, marked to the MCA president Vijay Patil and other office-bearers, that some members of MCA have misused the legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s name for the appointment of their favorite for the jobs.
“We respect Sachin Tendulkar but his name is used unnecessary everywhere to put pressure that Sachin has recommended X, Y and Z. If Sachin has to make any recommendations, he can directly talk to the president and CIC as we all know him very well. Tendulkar is an icon, we respect him and I am sure if he has any suggestions, he has every right to put his views across to us,” Rajput wrote in his e-mail, reported several media organisations.
It’s is understood that Rajput’s email is a reaction to the statement of Amit Dani, a member of the MCA Apex Council. Dani had suggested that CIC should check the credibility of the selected persons with MCA before making the names public.
He had also opined, in the email writer to the MCA president Patil, that convenors should be preset in the meeting to avoid misunderstandings.
“In all CIC meetings convenors should be available to avoid further misunderstandings amongst ourselves.’
To which, CIC chairman Rajput replied, that there was no misunderstanding between the secretary and the CEO.
“There was no misunderstanding between the secretary and the CEO as I spoke to both of them and said we are taking the interviews of the candidates now. That the meeting has to be convened by the convenor. He should know the facts before he speaks, “Rajput added.
Rajput, who is a former MCA office-bearer, said that he knows that members throw their weight around to get things done. He said that he is always open for suggestions but will not follow what Dani’s advice to whom he should include.
“If anyone would like to know the names, I have got it with me but here I don’t want to reveal it because I am more matured than him. So I will not stoop to his level. Now, I know why Mumbai cricket is going down because being an apex council member they can throw their weight around and get things done. We as CIC will not allow these things to happen; that’s why the AGM has given a mandate to an independent committee to look after the cricketing matters,” Rajput asserted in his mail.
As per Indian Express, MCA interview around 24 candidates for the jobs across various state level.