On the eve of first IPL match to be played in Jaipur after a gap of four years, a major row erupted on Tuesday in the faction-ridden Rajasthan Cricket Association. 

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The issue, which resulted in a major fracas and eventually made Dr C.P. Joshi, RCA president, to walk out from the meeting in a huff, was over disagrement by Lalit Modi group on expenditure incurre on refurbishing SMS stadium for the IPL matches.

According to Pinkesh Porwal, RCA treasurer, the initial tender was of Rs 2 crore. However, after completion of the work, the company assigned for this job, presented a bill of Rs 4 crore. Porwal said: “Dr Joshi asked me and R S. Nanda, secretary RCA, to sign the bill, which we could not do without verification. We told him that such bill need to be discussed in the executive committee meeting, which is the only authorised body to pass such expenditure.

On this Dr Joshi lost his cool and walked out, saying ‘I am a politician and if I want I can put locks on the RCA’.”Clarifying his position, Porwal said: “We cannot be browbeaten in such a manner. There is a procedure for such issue which should be followed by the RCA, especially Dr Joshi. Such type of arm-twisting cannot be tolerated.” 

ALLEGATIONS

  • However, the Joshi camp, on the other hand, has accused the Lalit Modi camp of putting unnecessary hurdles in organising IPL matches.   
  • Sources said that Dr Joshi even told Ruchir Modi you had agreed to cooperate in organsing IPL matches but your people are creating problems.  
  • We cannot be browbeaten in such a manner. There is a procedure for such issue which should be followed by the RCA.