Rajasthan Cricket Association: A power struggle amid govt silence
2
Jaipur: The Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) is grappling with unprecedented turmoil as its govt-appointed ad hoc committee, tasked with conducting elections, has overstayed its tenure by over a year, a first in the association's history.
On June 27, the panel, formed on March 28, 2024, will complete five tenures.
Unlike the 2014–2017 period, when an ad hoc panel managed RCA affairs due to suspension by the Indian cricket board (BCCI) over Lalit Modi's controversial reappointment, the current crisis stems from political interference and committee infighting. Led by BJP MLA Jaideep Bihani, the committee is now plagued by internal rifts, with members accusing each other of power grabs and mismanagement.
The infighting has reduced the six-member panel to a two-member team, raising questions about Rajasthan govt's silence despite its authority to resolve the crisis. Bihani, an MLA from Sriganganagar, wields significant influence within the committee due to his political stature. His position as a BJP legislator grants him leverage over other members, enabling unilateral decisions that have fueled dissent. Bihani's actions, such as suspending the Pali and Bikaner District Cricket Associations (DCA) and forming selection committees without proper procedure, have been criticized as authoritarian.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
Four committee members, Dhananjai Singh Khimsar, Dharamveer Singh Sekhawat, Ratan Singh, and Harish Chandra Singh, have openly rebelled, accusing Bihani of using political clout to marginalize them and undermine RCA's democratic processes. They allege he has neglected meetings for months and made baseless match-fixing allegations against the Rajasthan Royals during IPL 2025, prompting the franchise to lodge complaints with the Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC) and other authorities.
The state govt's inaction has drawn scrutiny, particularly as the ad hoc committee's prolonged tenure, originally set for three months with a subsequent extension, has delayed RCA elections indefinitely. "Bihani is from the ruling party but seems to have support from a central leader, openly confronting the sports minister/government. The ad hoc was created for reasons now happening. Three months have turned into five extensions, a mockery," said a source.
Bihani, however, refuted the claims. "CM sir doesn't pay attention to cricket, so to say that I am getting his support is wrong. But yes, if I had done anything wrong while running RCA, he would have reprimanded me. The only interference there is, is from the Sports Council. I will comment on this tomorrow if the ad hoc panel gets an extension," Bihani told TOI.
Meanwhile, former CM Ashok Gehlot also waded into the issue, criticizing the govt's silence and alleging on X that infighting in RCA had disappointed cricket lovers and made it challenging to organize the IPL.
"Elections should have been held within three months, yet it's been one and a half years," Gehlot said, adding that during his son, Vaibhav Gehlot's tenure as RCA president, the association hosted international matches and initiated projects like a world-class stadium, which are now stalled.
Sources attributed the delay in RCA elections to the "entry of too many politicians' sons". Notable names include Jodhpur DCA president Dhananjai Singh Khimsar (son of health minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar), Banswara DCA president Prempratap Singh Malviya (son of BJP leader Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya), Baran DCA treasurer Pawan Dilawar (son of education minister Madan Dilawar), Churu DCA president Parakram Singh Rathore (son of former Leader of Opposition Rajendra Singh Rathore), Sikar DCA treasurer Ashish Tiwari (son of Rajya Sabha MP Ghanshyam Tiwari), Alwar DCA president Mohit Yadav (son of former BJP minister Jaswant Yadav), and Sirohi DCA president Vikram Dewasi (son of panchayati raj, rural development and disaster management minister Otaram Dewasi).
"Too many sons of politicians want to marry a single bride - RCA. So best is to avoid marriage. They don't want to do things in haste and repent later," a source said.
eom
Jaipur: The Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) is grappling with unprecedented turmoil as its govt-appointed ad hoc committee, tasked with conducting elections, has overstayed its tenure by over a year, a first in the association's history. On June 27, the panel, formed on March 28, 2024, will complete five tenures.
Unlike the 2014–2017 period, when an ad hoc panel managed RCA affairs due to suspension by the Indian cricket board (BCCI) over Lalit Modi's controversial reappointment, the current crisis stems from political interference and committee infighting. Led by BJP MLA Jaideep Bihani, the committee is now plagued by internal rifts, with members accusing each other of power grabs and mismanagement.
The infighting has reduced the six-member panel to a two-member team, raising questions about Rajasthan govt's silence despite its authority to resolve the crisis.
Bihani, an MLA from Sriganganagar, wields significant influence within the committee due to his political stature. His position as a BJP legislator grants him leverage over other members, enabling unilateral decisions that have fueled dissent. Bihani's actions, such as suspending the Pali and Bikaner District Cricket Associations (DCA) and forming selection committees without proper procedure, have been criticized as authoritarian.
Four committee members, Dhananjai Singh Khimsar, Dharamveer Singh Sekhawat, Ratan Singh, and Harish Chandra Singh, have openly rebelled, accusing Bihani of using political clout to marginalize them and undermine RCA's democratic processes. They allege he has neglected meetings for months and made baseless match-fixing allegations against the Rajasthan Royals during IPL 2025, prompting the franchise to lodge complaints with the Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC) and other authorities.
The state govt's inaction has drawn scrutiny, particularly as the ad hoc committee's prolonged tenure, originally set for three months with a subsequent extension, has delayed RCA elections indefinitely. "Bihani is from the ruling party but seems to have support from a central leader, openly confronting the sports minister/government. The ad hoc was created for reasons now happening. Three months have turned into five extensions, a mockery," said a source.
Bihani, however, refuted the claims. "CM sir doesn't pay attention to cricket, so to say that I am getting his support is wrong. But yes, if I had done anything wrong while running RCA, he would have reprimanded me. The only interference there is, is from the Sports Council. I will comment on this tomorrow if the ad hoc panel gets an extension," Bihani told TOI.
Meanwhile, former CM Ashok Gehlot also waded into the issue, criticizing the govt's silence and alleging on X that infighting in RCA had disappointed cricket lovers and made it challenging to organize the IPL.
"Elections should have been held within three months, yet it's been one and a half years," Gehlot said, adding that during his son, Vaibhav Gehlot's tenure as RCA president, the association hosted international matches and initiated projects like a world-class stadium, which are now stalled.
Sources attributed the delay in RCA elections to the "entry of too many politicians' sons". Notable names include Jodhpur DCA president Dhananjai Singh Khimsar (son of health minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar), Banswara DCA president Prempratap Singh Malviya (son of BJP leader Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya), Baran DCA treasurer Pawan Dilawar (son of education minister Madan Dilawar), Churu DCA president Parakram Singh Rathore (son of former Leader of Opposition Rajendra Singh Rathore), Sikar DCA treasurer Ashish Tiwari (son of Rajya Sabha MP Ghanshyam Tiwari), Alwar DCA president Mohit Yadav (son of former BJP minister Jaswant Yadav), and Sirohi DCA president Vikram Dewasi (son of panchayati raj, rural development and disaster management minister Otaram Dewasi).
"Too many sons of politicians want to marry a single bride - RCA. So best is to avoid marriage. They don't want to do things in haste and repent later," a source said.
eom
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
20 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Shubman Gill first in 148 years of Test history to do the unthinkable, also shatters Gavaskar's 54-year-old India record
Captaincy is pressure. It is but maybe not for Shubman Gill. Taking over the No.4 spot, following the footsteps of Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, is daunting. It surely is but again, maybe not for Shubman Gill. At least the early indication doesn't suggest that. Shubman Gill can do no wrong, it seems. Ever since he replaced Rohit Sharma as India's Test captain, Gill has been unstoppable. 147 in Headingley, then 269 in the first innings of the second Test at Edgbaston and backing that up with another century in the second innings -- Gill has taken to captaincy and batting at No.4 as a duck to the water. India's captain Shubman Gill reacts as he walks back to the pavilion having lost his wicket for 161 on day four of the second Test(AFP) Now, to think that he was not the first-choice as India's Test captain—it was fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, the designated vice-captain in Rohit's regime—seems quite unbelievable. After registering the highest Test score by an Indian captain and becoming the first Asian captain to notch up a double hundred in SENA countries on Day 2 of the second Test, Gill shattered more records on his way to his 8th Test century on Day 4. Gill became the first batter to score a double century and a 150 in 148-years of Test cricket. He got to his 150 in the final session of Day 4. Gill was finally dismissed for 161 when he tried to turn one Shoaib Bashir delivery to the on-side. Shubman Gill breaks Gavaskar's record for most runs by an Indian in a Test match Gill became the first Indian in 87 years to score more than 400 runs in a single Test. Gill aggregated 430 runs in the Edgebaston Test. This is the second-most by a batter overall, only 26 short of Graham Gooch's world record of 456 runs scored against India in 1990. Gill went past the likes of Mark Taylor, Kumar Sangakkara and Brian Lara in the list. Gill also smashed Sunil Gavaskar's 54-year-old record for scoring the most runs in a Test match by an Indian. In only his fourth Test match, Gavaskar had scored 344 runs against the West Indies in Port of Spain way back in 1971. VVS Laxman is third on the list with 340 runs in the historic Test against Australia at the Eden Gardens in 2001, followed Sourav Ganguly (330 runs vs Pakistan in 2007) and Virender Sehwag (319 runs vs South Africa in 2008). Gill also became the first Indian captain to register a double century and a century in the same Test. Gavaskar was the only Indian to achieve the feat, but he did that as a non-captain. Overall, Gill became the 9th player to score a double century and a century in the same match. India captains with hundreds in both innings of a Test Sunil Gavaskar vs WI, Kolkata, 1978 Virat Kohli vs AUS, Adelaide, 2014 Shubman Gill vs ENG, Edgbaston, 2025 Gill is the second player to record three hundred in his first two Tests as captain after Virat Kohli. Seven others got two each: Vijay Hazare, Jackie McGlew, Greg Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, Alastair Cook, Steven Smith and Dhananjaya de Silva.
Hindustan Times
20 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
'Tune bola neeche maar...': Rishabh Pant shouts after Shubman Gill tells him to stop hitting it in the air
Indian cricket team's new captain, Shubman Gill and vice-captain, Rishabh Pant, have already given enough entertainment. And we are not even halfway through the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. From enthralling partnerships with contrasting styles of batting to making effective calls in the field, Pant and Gill have been inseparable. Their stump mic chatter has been equally good. They were at it in Headingley and they continued the same at Edgbaston. India's Rishabh Pant, with the team's captain Shubhman Gill, celebrates (@BCCI X) On Day 4 of the second Test, Gill tried to stop Rishabh Pant from hitting every ball in the air. The attacking keeper batter came out all guns blazing after the fall of KL Rahul's wicket. He got off the mark with a boundary and then hit a six off his fourth ball to break the record for most sixes by a batter in an away country. Pant was dropped by Zak Crawley when he was on 11 but that didn't stop him from going for the big shots. Despite hitting off-spinner Shoaib Bashir for a couple of boundaries, Pant tried to hit him across the line and missed it completely, almost ending up throwing his wicket away. It was at that point that Gill asked him to play straight and along the ground. What Gill said was not caught on stump mic but Pant's reply was. "Tune bola neeche marne islie main neeche dekh raha thha (You said to keep it on the ground, that's why I was looking down)," Pant said. "Ab seedhe se hi khelta hu (Now I will play straight)." Rishabh Pant plays scintillating knock vs England The flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter lit up the post-lunch session with a whirlwind 63 off just 58 balls — and departed in a way only Pant could. Trying to launch offspinner Shoaib Bashir over the ropes, Pant not only mistimed the shot but also lost grip of his bat mid-swing. The bat spiralled through the air toward midwicket, nearly striking England fielder Brydon Carse. Meanwhile, the ball soared in the opposite direction — high into the offside — where it was calmly caught by Ben Duckett. Carse, after collecting Pant's airborne bat, returned it to him as the Indian star walked off to a standing ovation from the Edgbaston crowd. Former England captain Mike Atherton, on commentary for Sky Sports, summed it up aptly: 'An extraordinary innings — and an extraordinary end.' Pant's explosive knock was vintage chaos. He smashed eight boundaries and three sixes, launching his counterattack just four balls into his innings by dancing down the pitch and hitting Josh Tongue straight back for six. There was a nonchalant flick over square leg for another maximum and an unorthodox swat for four that left him sprawled on the pitch. But it wasn't just the strokeplay — Pant's innings had moments of comic drama too. He was dropped twice by Zak Crawley and Chris Woakes and had already flung his bat once before lunch while attempting a pull shot on 41. That time, the bat flew nearly 20 meters into the leg side, missing everyone and drawing laughter across the ground. Hours later, he tried it again — but this time the ball found a fielder, and his bat went flying once more. With his 63, Pant recorded his 10th Test half-century against England, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most entertaining batters in the longest format.
New Indian Express
24 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
When the going gets tough, Siraj gets going
CHENNAI: A little into the third session on Day Three, Indian pacers had finally broken the Jamie Smith-Harry Brook partnership. It happened as soon as the second new ball came into play and, England, in quick time, were nine down with Mohammed Siraj taking a fifer — his first since the Cape Town Test in early 2024. Immediately after he took the wicket of Josh Tongue — his fifth of the innings — Siraj welcomed Shoaib Bashir with a brutal bouncer that hit the England spinner on the helmet. Just as Bashir was going through the concussion protocol, Siraj turned to Akash Deep, his fellow pacer, who had four wickets next to his name and was on the verge of his first Test fifer. "Unko meine ye bhi bhola ki 'char ball bacha hai, mein bahar dalun kya? (I even asked him 'four balls left, should I bowl wide, defensive lines?)," he would ask Akash Deep (as revealed in the video shared by BCCI) so that the Bengal pacer could get his name also on the honours board. Akash Deep would politely decline and Siraj captured his sixth and England's last wicket on the very next delivery. As he led the team off the field, with the ball in his hand, Siraj had recorded his second-best Test figures — 6/70 in 19.3 overs. That conversation and his performance on Friday, in many ways, summed up Siraj the leader and the person. An extremely skilful bowler who will run in all day for his team, Siraj had faced a fair bit of criticism over the last 12 months when it comes to red-ball cricket. First, the home series loss against New Zealand and then the lack of wickets in Australia meant Siraj was under immense pressure to step up when he arrived in England. Not just because he was not getting wickets, but also the fact that it had increased Jasprit Bumrah's workload. "If you want Bumrah to last longer for you in these five Tests, Siraj is one with a lot of experience right now under his belt. He's played in England too before and it's time that he puts his hands up and says, 'let me take the brunt of the bowling'. Experience is something which is extremely important. You may have all the skills but coupled with experience, you become that much better. And Siraj also having had prior exposure in England, he played those Tests where he bowled exceptionally well. I think if you can take that confidence with the kind of rhythm that he looked in the IPL, to me, he looks to come good in England," former India bowling coach and one of Siraj's long-time mentors, Bharat Arun, had told this daily before the series. However, questions over his form had only magnified after the loss in Headingley. But the thing about Siraj is that he brings out the best when backed up against the wall. In fact, that is how he rose to the top in the 2020-21 Border Gavaskar Trophy. Barely two Tests old, Siraj led the Indian pace attack in Brisbane, took a fifer and helped them register a historic win. In the years that followed, every time when there was no senior pacer to step up in the XI, Siraj did, at least more often than not. His numbers, with and without Bumrah in the playing XI, highlights an interesting story. In the 23 Tests Siraj has played alongside Bumrah, he has taken 69 wickets at 33.82, including a fifer. Without Bumrah, when Siraj had to lead the pace attack, he has 39 wickets in 15 tests at 25.2 average and three fifers to show.
