Vadodara: The battle for the post of Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) president post is heating up as election date gets closer with rival groups trading allegations over the international stadium project and the ‘downfall’ of local cricket.In the firing line of Royal Satyamev Group is former India wicketkeeper Kiran More who is running for the top post as candidate of the Revival Group.
The Royal Satyamev Jayate Group, led by royal scion Samarjitsinh Gaekwad, launched a sharp attack on More, citing his ‘clear conflict of interest.’ “More was a cricket advisory committee (CAC) member in the BCA for many years, and now he is contesting for the top BCA post despite having an academy in his name. It’s a direct conflict of interest,” alleged Dr Darshan Banker, who is contesting against More for the top post.“The CAC controls the selection of coaches and selectors. A CAC member with a cricket academy can easily influence the selectors and coaches to pick cricketers from his academy. And now he is eyeing the president’s post. Do we have any cricket association where a presidential candidate has an academy in his name?” Banker asked.More dismissed the allegations and argued that the cricket academy is registered in his wife’s and daughter’s names. “The academy is not officially registered in my name. It is easy to say that I can influence the selection process due to my position in the BCA, but can the opponents point out how many cricketers from my academy are playing in the various Baroda teams?,” More hit back.“The academy was launched to promote cricket and coach talented cricketers. I never tried to influence the team selection process. Even Gaekwad, who is heading the opposition group, runs a cricket academy at Motibaug. The opposition doesn’t have any real issues in this election, and hence they are making such allegations,” added More, who started his academy in the mid-1990s. He said that the BCA voters are smart and they know who contributed to cricket development in the city. Banker, however, pointed out that Gaekwad is not contesting the polls. “More’s conflict of interest is a major issue that we are taking up in the election campaign,” he added. Ex-India cricketer Connor Williams, who is supporting the Royal Satyamev Jayate Group, was also critical of More. “His name on the academy influences cricketers to join his academy as he was also a part of the CAC. Contesting for the president’s post while having a cricket academy in which he is actively involved is not good for the BCA’s future,” Williams added.
