Vadodara: A keen contest is underway between two prominent Vadodara factions for control of the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA), with polling scheduled for Sunday.The Royal Satyamev Jayate Group, led by royal scion Samarjitsinh Gaekwad, and the Revival Group, headed by industrialist Pranav Amin, have both expressed confidence of securing a majority in the elections. The association has over 1,900 members, though many are settled abroad.“We are confident of victory. Members have experienced an authoritative regime and are now seeking change. The way members were treated during the recent India–New Zealand ODI at the Kotambi International Cricket Stadium was seen by everyone,” Gaekwad said.Darshan Banker, the presidential candidate of the Royal Satyamev Jayate Group, alleged a decline in cricketing standards. “We have not produced an international cricketer after Hardik Pandya, and our Ranji team has not won in the past 26 years,” he said.Amin, however, said the Revival Group would return to power with a clear mandate. “We have developed cricketing infrastructure and built an international stadium,” he said. Former India wicketkeeper Kiran More, who is backing the Revival Group, said the panel has plans to further strengthen infrastructure and nurture quality cricketers.The campaign has turned acrimonious in the final phase. Amin made public his WhatsApp chats with Gaekwad on Friday, a move the Royal Satyamev Jayate Group termed “childish”. Gaekwad alleged that Amin’s camp had shown him disrespect when they were previously aligned.Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan also posted a video appearing to criticise the Revival Group, alleging that cricketing standards at the BCA had declined in recent years.BOXBCA moves HC seeking nod to count votesThe Baroda Cricket Association on Saturday moved a division bench of the Gujarat high court, seeking permission to count votes for its elections scheduled on Sunday. On Friday, the HC had allowed the BCA to conduct the polls but directed the association not to count the votes or declare the results without prior approval of the court.
