BCCI debars Karnakata skipper Yere Goud from playing in Ranji

Vadodara, Nov 23 (UNI) New Karnataka Ranji captain Yere Goud, who was supposed to lead his side in their opening Ranji Trophy Elite group ''A'' match against hosts Vadodara here today, has been debarred by the BCCI from playing for Kartanaka for his failure to obtain prior permission from the Board to join his home team.

The Board's decision was communicated by BCCI's chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty to Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) secretary Brijesh Patel and the team management here last night.

Goud was today replaced by opener Rowland Barrington as captain of the visiting team against former Ranji champions Vadodara being led by Jacob Martin.

After playing for Railways as a middle order batsman for 10 long years, Goud had opted to play for his home state Karnataka for this Ranji season and was named captain of the side for its first two Ranji matches against Vadodara and Haryana after he submitted the No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by the Railways on October 9 to Karnataka Cricket Association, 10 days after the expiry of the deadline fixed by the BCCI for players seeking transfer to other associations.

Talking to UNI at the Motibaug Palace ground, a demoralised Goud said, ''I did not know the procedure and also had no idea about the October 1, 2006, deadline.'' Admitting that he had committed a blunder, Goud said he also never knew that apart from the NOC, a formal application seeking permission for his transfer to Karnataka team was required to be submitted to the BCCI and the Karnataka state body before the deadline to facilitate the formal registration of his name.

Goud said soon after he was informed about the Board's decision last night, he had sent a letter to BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah for a favourable consideration of his case. ''I hope that the board will grant permission to me as a special case to represent Karnataka Ranji team in its second league match against Haryana to be played at Mysore from December 1 next,'' he said.

Contradicting Karnatak team manager P R Ashok Anand's statement that Goud's issue had been set right and he might play the second match against Haryana, BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said as per rules and regulations of the Board, Goud was not eligible to play for Karnataka.

Moreover, he said, the Board had not received any representation from the player so far and it would take its own time to decide on the issue as other states could raise objection if Goud was allowed to play.

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