The slugfest between Congress-ruled State Government and BJP MP headed Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) has taken a toll on cricket. The Ranji Trophy match between State team and Goa has been cancelled as vendetta politics touched a new low in the State.
The overnight confiscation of HPCA’s properties by State Government after the marathon Cabinet meet clearly showed the level of vendetta politics even as both parties were still contesting the case in different courts, including HP Registrar of Cooperative Societies, which is likely to pronounce its order on Monday.
Himachal Pradesh Ranji Trophy match was scheduled to start on Sunday at Dharamshala international cricket stadium but was cancelled amid uncertainty over management. The HPCA had come under controversy since the Congress Government came back to power in December last.
The Vigilance Bureau has lodged two FIRs against HPCA for misappropriation while one case is pending at HP Registrar of Cooperative Societies. One FIR has been lodged by Vigilance Bureau against HPCA chief and BJP MP Anurag Thakur and his younger brother Arun Dhumal for forging documents to purchase a land.
Sources said the immediate step by the State Government was taken due to HPCA chief Anurag Thakur’s open challenge to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on October 24 at Kangra. Thakur had said that “What Virbhadra can do… HPCA will continue to hold control of Dharamshala international cricket stadium and continue holding cricket matches.”
The scenic Dharamshala cricket stadium, which has won several accolades from foreign cricketers, has hosted one ODI between India and England in January this year and several IPl T20 matches apart from several charitable matches.
“Yes, with the State Government’s hush-hush act, the image of Dharamshala international cricket stadium is affected and it is likely that no international matches will be held here in the near future,” said BJP spokesperson Ganesh Dutt. The BJP vice president and former Horticulture Minister Narendra Bragtas said that it was a major setback for budding cricketers of the State and Government will be unable to manage the affairs of sports institutions, which had touched new heights under the HPCA led by BJP MP Anurag Thakur. However, a senior Government official on the condition of anonymity said that the State Government has taken the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) into confidence and the HPCA affairs will be running smoothly as they were running earlier.