Team Rajasthan will play in BCCI tournaments

Rajasthan’s cricketers will, after all, take part in the 2014-15 BCCI-run tournaments set to start in mid-October.

The BCCI has nominated national selector from South Zone Roger Binny, chairman of the BCCI junior national committee Connor Williams and women’s national selection committee member from Central Zone Rita Dey to select ‘Team Rajasthan’ for the various BCCI-run tournaments. These three will be assisted by a small group of former Rajasthan cricketers.

Not against the cricketers of Rajasthan

Elaborating on the matter, BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel told

The Hindu : “We have always maintained that the BCCI is not against the cricketers of Rajasthan. But we have also maintained that we cannot entertain Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) because it’s been suspended by the BCCI.

“Following a writ petition by the players, we told the Rajasthan High Court that there are hurdles to the functioning of an ad-hoc committee nominated by the BCCI and that we do not want the cricketers to suffer.

“As a result, the High Court has nominated selection committees that will choose teams with Binny, Williams and Rita as chairman of the three selection committees. The cricketers will represent Team Rajasthan and not Rajasthan Cricket Association.”

To normalise situation A BCCI release said: “Today the initiative of the BCCI to normalise the situation in Rajasthan on account of the impasse created by Section 25 of the Rajasthan Sports Act was recognised by the Rajasthan High Court in taking control over participation of the players.

The High Court has appointed the selection committees for the senior men's team, the junior team and the women’s team with BCCI national selector Roger Binny selecting the men’s team assisted by five selectors. “Two other national selectors, Connor Williams and Rita Dey, suggested by the BCCI, would be part of the junior committee and the women's committee respectively. All the costs of the players, officials, staff, ground rent, selectors, etc., as suggested by the BCCI would be borne by the BCCI. This arrangement has been made for the current season 2014-15.

“The suspension of the membership of the RCA continues and would not stand in the way of the players’ participation in BCCI tournaments.”

The RCA was suspended as full member of the BCCI because it violated the BCCI rules and regulations by electing Lalit Modi — banned for life for alleged IPL-related irregularities — as its president. As a consequence, the BCCI did not include Rajasthan in the draw for all tournaments.