Shillong, Sep 2: Eleven state cricketers, including senior members of the Meghalaya team, have written to the Honorary Secretary of the BCCI over the current impasse in the Meghalaya Cricket Association and how this is affecting their preparations for the 2026-27 season.
The players include Ranji Trophy captain Kishan Lyngdoh, who has been among the highest scorers for Meghalaya over the last few years, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy captain Akash Kumar Choudhary and Vijay Hazare Trophy vice-captain Ram Gurung.
In the letter, the signatories said that the MCA “is not functioning smoothly” and this has been seen in the “lack of proper communications”, “uncertainty regarding trials and preparatory camps” and no fitness or conditioning camps being held for any category. The domestic season has already started with the zonal Duleep Trophy and the state-based Ranji Trophy is set to begin next month. The players called on the BCCI to intervene to facilitate training and “proper and fair” trials.
“Unending court hearings are also hampering our preparations, etc as it has created administrative and other factions, so the players are really confused which side to listen [to],” the letter added.
The last bit refers to the ongoing battle for control of the MCA, fought between factions led by the President, James PK Sangma MP, and the Honorary Secretary, Rayonald Kharkamni. That fight has been going on for months and has reached the Meghalaya High Court where it remains. The next hearing is scheduled for 8th September.
The fight has to do with overall financial control of the MCA but a sexual harassment scandal was also added to the mix. (TSR has covered the ins and outs extensively over the past few months. Use our search function or browse the website for more.)
The administrative functioning of the MCA has been seriously hampered by all of this infighting and Meghalaya will now not be represented at the BCCI annual general meeting scheduled for 18th September.
This letter was presented to the Honorary Secretary of the BCCI, Devajit Saikia, by Shillong Cricket Association President Peter Macdonald Kharsawian on 27th August at a meeting in Guwahati.
It was only shared with the media today after a letter appeared in a local newspaper yesterday accusing Kharsawian and Kharkamni of pressuring players to sign blank sheets of paper to which the letter was added and threatening all who did not do so with the ruination of their careers.
Today Kharsawian denied that outright. He said that players have over the past weeks and months expressed their despondency at the deadlock in the MCA and, when a chance came to meet Saikia, it was decided that a letter from the players be submitted to the BCCI boss. In recent months, nine of the 12 district associations in Meghalaya and five of the six Apex Council members wrote to the BCCI as well.
Twelve players were asked to read the letter prepared by the SCA and 11 of these agreed to sign it. Several of these were present to speak to the media today. They were careful to emphasise that they are not taking sides in the internal fight but are only interested in playing cricket.
“We were not forced to sign the letter. We read it and signed it with our own consent. We are players and our job is to play and bring pride to our state,” Kishan said.
The players are involved in training and keeping fit but there is a heavy cloud hanging over what sort of season Meghalaya will have. Akash added, “We are the breadwinners of our family. It would affect us greatly if there is no domestic season.”
(Representative photo)
