Shillong, Sep 4: Players are right in the middle of the ongoing dispute between rival factions in the Meghalaya Cricket Association, with trials beginning today for the senior men’s team. (TSR has covered the ins and outs extensively over the past few months. Use our search function or browse the website for more.)
These trials, and fitness selection camp, have been called for by those on the side of MCA President James PK Sangma. They are being held at the MCA’s indoor cricket facility in Bhoirymbong until 7th September.
Not all players will be participating, however. The Shillong Cricket Association, in a notice two days ago, said that communication had “not been officially received from the MCA through the proper channels, as had been the established practice.”
Players were thus “advised” not to appear for the trials without prior knowledge and authorisation of the SCA and those players who do not comply with the notice could face disciplinary proceedings. The notice was signed by the SCA General Secretary Banri Kharmalki.
It is not clear how many SCA cricketers will or won’t attend the trials but the association usually provides a substantial proportion of the Meghalaya men’s cricket teams.
One other matter is that of the support staff. The MCA has reportedly hired a physio and trainer from Karnataka for the trials. Bringing in outside support staff is quite common but one local person who has served as MCA support staff in the past said that these two were appointed “without prior notification” or a call for application.
Another complication concerning the trials, as claimed by an MCA member of the opposing faction, is that these they cannot be considered as official as they were not called for by the MCA’s Apex Council (which by and large is opposed to Sangma’s presidency).
“Some players were confused and some were even intimidated into having to attend the trials,” the MCA member said. This is in complete contrast to letters that have been written to a local newspaper in recent days, purporting to be from cricketers who have claimed that it is the SCA President and MCA Honorary Secretary who are demanding that players avoid the trials.
At the end of the day, the state’s cricketers have been drawn into this continuing soap opera. Like a group of them said the other day, all they really want to do is to play cricket.
The ongoing dispute has already hurt the MCA’s standing within the state and its reputation will no doubt have fallen amongst its North East peers and nationally; the MCA has not been included in the BCCI’s electoral rolls for this month’s annual general meeting.
The infighting has been dragging on for months now but U-23 men’s, U-19 men’s, U-19 women’s tournaments and the senior men’s Ranji Trophy will begin in the first half of October. Time is running out to get the state’s various teams ready.