Saxena rejects JSCA plea

Jamshedpur, Jun 27 (UNI) Former Test cricketer and secretary of Cricket Association of Jharkhand(CAJ) Ramesh Saxena, who challenged the affiliation of Jharkhand State Cricket Association(JSCA) in Ranchi High court, today turned down an invitation of the JSCA members representing the districts.

Infuriated by the rejection of invitation, JSCA vice-president (Districts) Praveen Singh alleged the former cricketer was hatching a conspiracy to destroy the spirit of the game in the state.

Mr Singh said in 2000 after formation of the new state, Mr Saxena himself took initiatives to give affiliation to 21 districts instead of 13 districts and expressed desire to work together for promotion of sports.

''But now surprisingly Mr Saxena is challenging affiliation of the JSCA which was earlier affiliated to the BCCI during the regime of Jagmohan Dalmiya,'' Mr Singh said.

When asked to name the persons who prompted Mr Saxena to go against the JSCA, Mr Singh,who is also a BJP leader, however, refused to comment. But he said if the former cricketer did not stop his anti-JSCA activities, they would teach him a lesson.

Mr Saxena filed an intervention application in High court on June 19, challenging the affiliation of the JSCA. Mr Saxena's application intervened the writ filed by the secretary of JSCA Rajesh Verma, who challenged the decision of the BCCI on its affiliation of the state cricketing body.

In his application Mr Saxena claimed that CAJ is the only valid member of BCCI, not the JSCA.

Interestingly Mr Saxena unsuccessfully contested for post of secretary in the biennial elections of the JSCA, held at Bokaro last month in which the JSCA president Amitabh Chowdhary defeated the state home minister Sudesh Mahto to retain his post.

Meanwhile, the executive committee meeting of the JSCA, headed by Mr Chowdhary, held at the JSCA office here today. The meeting had discussed various matters including this year's budget, coaching, training camps and other matters. The meeting also constituted several committees and sub-committees on all the important affairs, headed by the committee members, for smooth functioning of the organisation.

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