The former Test cricketers Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble have voiced their objection to what they deem to be unnecessary expenditure that the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) intends to undertake.
The two, whose term as secretary and president (respectively) of the KSCA ended in December last, sought to make their points at a stormy Special General Body Meeting on Sunday.
But an angry Srinath expressed displeasure at the manner in which things unfolded at the meeting. “They didn’t even let us speak properly,” he said. The focus of their disagreement with the existing Managing Committee was a proposal to spend Rs. 75 crore on building clubhouses on the KSCA premises in Hubli, Belgaum, and Shimoga.
The proposal was eventually approved at the meeting, which was attended by nearly 300 members.
“What is the logic of spending so much on clubhouses? This is a cricketing organisation; not a social club,” Srinath said. “They say the purpose of the clubhouse includes cricketing activity. What is the necessity, then, to have a bar? A canteen should be enough.”
Srinath and Kumble sent a letter of protest to senior office-bearers of the KSCA ahead of the Special General Body Meeting, objecting to certain matters on the agenda. Kumble said, “We are not against the development of cricket but we had to register our dissent for the proposal.”
The KSCA spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya rebutted the allegations, stating that the expenditure was for cricketing purposes.
“Clubhouse is just a terminology but it is basically a cricketing facility. It will include an indoor facility, a gym, a pool, a physio room, an umpires’ room, and residential rooms. It is all for cricket. A restaurant will be there for sure. We haven’t decided about a bar yet.”
