Lalchand Rajput approaches ombudsman to reinstate CIC

Lalchand Rajput

Former India batsman and coach Lalchand Rajput has approached the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) ombudsman, retired Justice Vijaya Tahilramani, to look into the dissolving of the Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC) and reinstate it.

MCA secretary Sanjay Naik said the decision to dissolve all committees was taken in the Annual General Meeting held on December 27.

On February 18, the MCA intimated then CIC head Rajput and his committee members Raju Kulkarni and Sameer Dighe about the panel being dissolved, which Rajput has termed as "unconstitutional" in his petition. India's 2007 World T20-winning coach has also urged the ombudsman to put a stay on the new CIC committee formed by the MCA and to put a hold on the new selection committee process.

Rajput has alleged interference from MCA secretary Naik and [joint secretary] Shah Alam Shaikh in all selection processes. He has also said that the secretaries interfered in the appointment of coach Ramesh Powar as MCA wanted Amol Muzumdar as Mumbai coach. Powar was eventually appointed as head coach for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where Mumbai emerged champions. "CIC did not accept the above unconstitutional decision of the secretaries which annoyed the secretaries and as a result they decided to dissolve the CIC," he stated. Rajput said the secretaries or the Apex Council have no authority to dissolve the CIC on the basis of conflict of interest. He pointed out that the letter from the MCA is "silent" on the nature of the conflict of interest.

Naik however, maintains that the MCA has acted upon the AGM's mandate. "Our general body wanted to dissolve all the standing committees and accordingly we dissolved the CIC. We have forwarded the petition to the ombudsman. Whatever will be the order, we will abide by it," he said.