Cricket Coach Attacked Over Selection, Suffers 20 Stitches and Broken Shoulder in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

The Cricket Association of Pondicherry has come under intense criticism after Under-19 head coach S Venkataraman was allegedly assaulted inside its training complex by three local cricketers upset over their omission from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy squad.

The incident occurred on Monday morning inside the indoor nets area and has led to a police case.

Coach Hospitalised After Violent Assault

According to the Indian Express report, Venkataraman, a former CAP Secretary, sustained a head wound that required 20 stitches along with a fractured shoulder. An FIR was filed at the Sedarapet police station soon after the attack.

Sub-Inspector S Rajesh confirmed the details of the complaint and noted the seriousness of the injuries. "Venkataraman received 20 stitches on his forehead, but he is stable. The said players are absconding, and we are trying to track them. Further details will be revealed in due course," he said.

Players Named in Complaint as Tensions Boil Over

In his statement to police, Venkataraman identified three cricketers as the attackers: senior player Karthikeyan Jayasundaram and first-class players A Aravinddaraj and S Santhosh Kumaran. He also accused G Chandran, secretary of the Bharathidasan Pondicherry Cricketers' Forum, of provoking the assault.

The complaint said the confrontation began over the players' exclusion from the state T20 squad. "While Aravinddaraj held me, Karthikeyan took the bat that Santhosh Kumaran had and attacked me with the intention of killing me. They hit me, saying Chandran had told them that they would get a chance only if they killed me," Venkataraman stated.

Forum Denies Instigation as CAP Faces Broader Scrutiny

The Bharathidasan Pondicherry Cricketers' Forum rejected claims that its members encouraged the attack. Its president, Senthil Kumaran, said, "Venkataraman has a documented history of several cases against him. He has often been known to behave rudely with local cricketers, using obscene language. His grudge against Chandran is also well-known, considering that we have repeatedly raised several issues within the CAP to the BCCI over the last seven years."

BCCI Responds to Wider Allegations of Manipulation

The assault came shortly after an investigation by the Indian Express highlighted alleged manipulation within the CAP to reduce opportunities for Puducherry-born players while enabling outstation cricketers to be listed as locals using forged documents. The report found that only five local players have played in Ranji Trophy matches since 2021.

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia acknowledged the seriousness of the claims, noting that they "raise some serious issues" and will be examined by the board.

The CAP did not comment on the assault case. Regarding the investigation, CAP CEO Raju Metha stood by the association's procedures, stating that all players met BCCI eligibility rules and that there was "zero tolerance for corruption."