APWCA splits, new panel assumes charge

Vijayawada, May 29 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Women's Cricket Association (APWCA) was split and a new set of office bearers were elected at a special general body meeting here.

The former office bearers headed by J Geeta Reddy and secretary M Ramalinga Reddy ceased to hold any authority over APWCA.

Out of the total 18 district associations affiliated to the APWCA, 13 associations attended the meeting and the rest stayed away.

Speaking to newspersons, the newly elected APWCA secretary S Chandrasekhar alleged that the former president Geeta Reddy had failed to initiate action on the former secretary after the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) ordered an inquiry into the alleged 'misuse of funds' by Mr Reddy.

Mr Chandrasekhar said the SAAP had granted Rs 4 lakh for 18 affiliated district cricket associations to buy cricket gears, but only four associations received the kit.

Apart from this, the SAAP also granted Rs 95,000 for conducting a 20 - day coaching camps for junior and senior national teams, but only a four-day camp was organised for the seniors.

After these issues were brought to the State Chief Minister' attention, he ordered a probe into these misappropriations.

Mr Chandrasekhar said in the history of AP Women's cricket, it was for the first time, three former players Rajini Venugopal, J S Lakshmi and Manjula Kishore were elected as office bearers.

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