Pondy cricket body revolts against TNCA, knocks President's door

New Delhi, Aug 6 (UNI) Pondicherry Cricketer Union (PCU) has sought President APJ Abdul Kalam's intervention to help Cricket Association of Pondicherry (CAP) come out of Tamil Nadu's wings and be treated as a separate state body by the BCCI.

In a letter to the President, PCU alleged that Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) has done simply nothing for the game in Pondicherry and, on the contrary, TNCA President N Srinivasan, also the BCCI Treasurer, was '' out to destroy the budding talents in Pondicherry.'' PCU President S Santhamurthy alleged Mr Srinivasan was ''sabotaging every efforts made by cricketers and government recognized Cricket Association of Pondicherry'' and claimed the CAP office bearers were facing life threats ''from most powerful well connected rich person.'' He accused Mr Srinivasan of preventing CAP from becoming a full board member and citing former Chief Election Commissioner TS Krishnamurthy's observation during last year's BCCI AGM that each state should have just one vote.

''The irony is Maharashtra has got four votes, Gujarat has thrhee votes, while Andhra and West Bengal have two votes in BCCI whereas states like Bihar, Pondicherry are not even affiliate member,'' he alleged.

''Unfortunately, districts like Baroda, Mumbai, Vidarbha, Sourashtra, Hyderabad and clubs like National Cricket Club and Cricket Club India are BCCI members whereas many states are left out. This has ruined the job opportunities and sports quota (for cricket) in educational institutions for our youngsters,'' he rued.

Apart from Chief Minister N Rangasamy, copy of the letter was also sent to Mukut Mithi, Lieutenant-Governor of Pondicherry, BCCI President Sharad Pawar, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Karunanidhi and ICC President Percy Sonn.

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