The tug-of-war between the BCCI and the Supreme Court has left India's Under-19 team and their support staff without any money. Result? Players have gone half-a-month without their entitled allowance of Rs 6800 per day and have to pay out of their own pockets for their post-match dinner or rely on parents for money.
According to a report in the Indian Express, U-19 coach Rahul Dravid, the players, and support staff have not been paid for a fortnight now. This is because there is no official signatory to release the funds after the apex court removed BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke. The cash withdrawal limit of Rs 24,000 a week after the Centre's demonetisation policy has only added to the misery of the U-19 team.
After BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Shirke were kicked out, the board is left with joint-secretary Amitabh Choudhary and treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary. But a resolution has to be passed by the board members to make one of them the new signatory to release the funds.
The report says that the Committee of Administrators (COA) has allowed BCCI CEO Rahul Johri to dispense funds for the senior team, currently in Hyderabad for one-off Test against Bangladesh, for their daily allowances but the junior team seems to have been forgotten.
The daily quotes a player on condition of anonymity saying that the team is getting by because the breakfast is complimentary at the posh hotel they have been put up in. One meal is provided by the host state association. But dinner becomes a big problem for them as one sandwich costs over Rs 1500 if they order in-house. This forces the players to go out for supper after a tiring day on the field.
The saddest part is that the players cannot even complain to anyone as there is no authority to complain to. According to the report, the players are now relying on monetary support from their families.
The junior team is currently on their home tour against the Under-19 team of England.
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 "Cricket, Under-19 Indian cricket team, Rahul Dravid, India Under-19 team, BCCI, Supreme Court (SC), Anurag Thakur, Ajay Shirke,")
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