Cricket News By TODAYLIVESCORE.INFO - MCA selector alleges intimidation. The internal squabbling in the Mumbai Cricket Association has taken an ugly turn
The internal squabbling in the Mumbai Cricket Association has taken an ugly turn
The internal squabbling in the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has taken an ugly turn when a senior selector alleged intimidation by an Apex Council member, who also is a former Mumbai cricketer.
In an email to MCA president Vijay Patel, Anand Yalvigi has claimed to have been threatened by Kiran Powar to pick a player of his club. He also has alleged that Powar's threat was laced with ‘atrocious and unparliamentary' language.
“This is to bring to your notice, today morning (October 7, 2021), one of the Apex Council Members, Mr. Kiran Powar, called me and was insisting and threatening me to select a player (name not being disclosed) in the senior team. His tone and language was atrocious and unparliamentary. He threatened all the selection committee members of dire consequences if the player is not selected. It was shocking and disgraceful to see a former player use such language and pressurise a senior selector of Mumbai,” Yalvigi, 46, wrote in the mail, seen by Cricbuzz.
The 46-year-old Powar, a former first class cricketer, having represented Mumbai, Baroda, Assam and Goa, refused to react against the allegation but Mumbai chief selector Salil Ankola called the exchange between the two former Mumbai players a sad development. “Sad that something like this has happened,” Ankola, a former Indian pacer, said. “I absolutely support Anand.”
Yalvigi, who played first class cricket for Mumbai, Maharashtra and Karnataka, confirmed writing the mail but did not offer a comment. He has, however, urged the MCA president to initiate strictest action.
“I have a clean track record and (am someone) who does my job diligently, and am a professional with 25 years of corporate experience. Such calls are disturbing and demotivating. If such things continue, I can only say – ‘God help Mumbai Cricket'. I sincerely hope, such things shouldn't be tolerated and strictest action should be taken to avoid any further embarrassment. I have spoken to all my colleagues and they are of the same opinion too. Looking forward to you support and intervention,” he wrote, signing off his letter.
Apart from Ankola, who is the chairman, and Yalvigi, Ghulam Parkar, Sunil More and Prasad Desai are the members of the Mumbai senior selection committee. MCA president Patil could not be reached for reaction.
