Kolkata, Sep 10 (PTI) With the Cricket Association of Bengal’s (CAB) annual general meeting and elections approaching on September 24, it’s president Sourav Ganguly has hit back at the controversies surrounding the state association, defending its age-verification process and World Cup ticket distribution system.
Elections for the posts of secretary, joint secretary and an Apex Council members will be held at the AGM, with September 16 the deadline for filing nominations.
The run-up to the elections has seen allegations of irregularities in Bengal cricket, including over age discrepancies and complimentary World Cup tickets.
BJP MLA from Kashipur-Belgachia Ritesh Tiwari had alleged corruption in the Bengal cricket administration and questioned Ganguly’s responsibility as CAB president.
Responding to the allegations, the former BCCI president in a media interaction at the Eden Gardens said he had known Tiwari since 2017 and insisted that CAB had a transparent system to deal with age discrepancies.
“I have known Ritesh Babu for a long time. Since 2017. He loves cricket. Keep track of cricket on the field. The award ceremony was held last year. Not this year. This is the first time that the BCCI has introduced the Aadhaar update system. On the 27th of last month, the BCCI held an age verification seminar,” Ganguly said.
“Representatives of all state agencies go. Many people from the KMC have also played with fake birth certificates. Age is a problem in all sports. Football, cricket – all sports.” “The CAB has a transparent set of rules for verification of age. Rohit Yadav has been dropped from the national team. We didn’t include Rohit and Ravi Kumar in the probable squad.
“Not only them, but many players who have reached the age limit, have been dropped. It will be verified every year. The CAB has a 10-member verification cell. Those who are caught are not allowed to play.” On whether CAB could act against networks involved in obtaining fraudulent documents, Ganguly said the association’s role was limited to verification and exclusion.
“CAB can’t do anything. The CAB can only verify and exclude it. I don’t know where they come from, whether they get fake certificates from KMC or from hospitals or boroughs. The CAB will not be able to reach that far,” he said.
“But if submitted, it will be captured in the Aadhaar update system. No one will be spared. The CAB has 10 people on salary for this job. They’re checking everything.” Ganguly also addressed allegations surrounding the distribution of complimentary tickets for the World Cup, insisting that CAB had followed BCCI and ICC guidelines.
“Whatever happened was in accordance with the rules. Complimentary tickets in CAB are happening for last 30 years and it has continued to do so.
“Even when the Test match against South Africa was held this year, CAB followed its old policy of giving tickets to its honorary associate and life members plus the exact amount of complimentary tickets required to be distributed to various agencies,” he said.
“But in case of World Cup, that does not exist because there is a strict guideline by the BCCI and ICC saying that if you have to host matches, this is what the guidelines are.
“We distribute tickets in a transparent manner. Various controversies are being created in the name of CAB with the elections ahead. We know who or what is doing it.” Asked whether the controversy could tarnish his image, Ganguly dismissed the suggestion, saying, “No one can tarnish my image. My image does not depend on the CAB.” PTI TAP SSC SSC
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