CAB dissident group use athletics pedestal to springboard ahead

Kolkata, Jun 15 (UNI) A programme for sponsoring two talented athletes from Bengal virtually looked like the campaign ground for the dissident group of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) as they were present in rank and file raising the stakes for the coming state cricket body elections.

Led by City Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee, contesting the incumbent CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya, also the president of West Bengal Athletic Association, the team was represented by Sambaran Banerjee, Raja Venkat, Samar Pal and Gopal Bose.

While they all talked about athletics and what they plan for its betterment, several club representatives from the maidan were conspicuous in making their presence felt and the way they rubbed shoulders with Samar Pal and company.

While Mr Mukherjee was actively introduced to all and sundry, they left no stones unturned to make their rhetoric audible of what they are doing for sports in Bengal and what they plan to.

When approached, Mr Mukherjee, however, said, '' Today we have assembled for the sake of athletics and we would better keep it to that. '' Upon insisting whether the panel was ready to challenge the might of Dalmiya in CAB, he said, '' You will know when it is ready. Not today. But there is displeasure in the maidan regarding CAB administration, there are several things that can be done for Eden Gardens itself and finally there are the districts who have borne the brunt of an indifferent administration. '' About the convention at Aryan's Club on June 20, he said, '' It's a convention. The panel will be announced all together. '' Mr Samar Pal said, '' We are keeping our cards close to the chest.

We don't want to open them right now. Maybe on June 20 we shall give some good news. '' Meanwhile, Hari Shankar Rai and Pinky Pramanik were given Rs two lakh each by ESPN for their training in 2006.

Mr Mukherjee said, '' We will like to everything we can for athletics. But we need money for that and qwe are thankful to ESPN for coming forward. '' UNI BA SJC AY BD2009