Notice to BCCI on ‘bias’ in Chhattisgarh Ranji team selection

Chhattisgarh High Court has issued notice to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the state cricket association over a PIL alleging bias in the selection of Chhattisgarh Ranji trophy team.

A division bench of justices Pritinker Diwaker and Chandra Bhusan Bajpai served notices to BCCI and Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSCS) on Monday seeking their replies, while hearing the PIL filed by former cricketer R Vijay Naidu (a resident of Raipur), petitioner’s lawyer Saurabh Dangi said.

The petitioner has alleged bias in the selection of Chhattisgarh state team which will make its Ranji Trophy debut in this season, he said.

The petition contended that rules of selection and other activities related to Ranji trophy team are not available on the website of CSCS, like it is in other states.

Despite the apex court clear directives in BCCI vs Bihar Cricket Association case that transparency should not be compromised at any level, Chhattisgarh ignored it, he alleged.

The petitioner further alleged that three players, namely Rishabh Tiwari, Avinash Dhariwal and Ashutosh Singh, were inducted in the team without taking part in the selection trial, he said.

Besides, Naidu also alleged that the selection process is vitiated due to favouritism and nepotism, the lawyer added.

The high court has posted the matter for next hearing on October 18.

Chhattisgarh was an associate member of the BCCI for a long time.

In February this year, the BCCI accorded full membership status to the state, making it the 28th affiliated unit of the board that will take part in the Ranji Trophy.