Even as cricket fans celebrate the return of Indian Premier League to the city after a gap of two years, questions are being raised about the manner in which it is being organised.
The cricketing fraternity in the state is not happy with the way the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) has been sidelined to let the event been organised by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) — the supposedly local team with no investor from the state. The team has only one player from the state.
The RCA has inked an agreement with RR on March 7 for organising the IPL. As per the agreement, RCA takes a back seat while RR plays organiser for the matches that are to be held in Jaipur.
Former secretary of RCA Kishore Rungta said, “With so much infighting and factionalism, RCA has been rendered incapable of organising matches. So the mantle has been taken over by the RR. But what alternative do they have for controlling police, civil departments, ministers political set-up and others? The RCA also does not have money as they have been banned by BCCI for the last few years.”
“RCA will make some money. I am sure they must have bargained hard. But is their focus on cricket? The present situation affects the status of RCA. Letting out your property creates a psychological impact,” added Rungta, who is also former BCCI treasurer.
Jaipur District Cricket Association secretary Vimal Soni said, “I am glad IPL is back to Jaipur. But the situation brings back memories of the glorious matches we used to organise as functionaries of RCA.”
Efforts to contact CP Joshi, RCA president were not successful. But according to Pinkesh (Jain) Porwal, treasurer RCA, “This RCA is different from the one under Lalit Modi. Things cannot be compared. We are being paid Rs 30 lakh per match.”
The fact that there is only one player from Rajasthan in RR has irked many. Social activist Suraj Soni said, “Why are so many facilities being provided to a team that has no connection to Rajasthan? No local investors, no connect, no local players.”
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