Court dismisses BCCI's application, RCA mulls PIL

The Rajasthan Cricket Association on Wednesday received some sort of relief as the Jaipur City district judge dismissed the application filed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India seeking transfer of the RCA's suit from ADJ-4 Jaipur.

As a consequence of the order, the suit filed by the RCA, against its suspension by the BCCI, and its consequential allied issues will now proceed in the court of the learned ADJ-4.

The matter came up for hearing during the lawyers strike in Jaipur. However, RCA deputy president Mehmood Abdi appeared in person and argued their case.

"The BCCI's attempt to delay the matter through this transfer application on totally unsubstantiated grounds of alleged bias to brow beat the judge proved futile. The intimidation trick of BCCI miserably failed as it could not meet the requirements to prove its allegations," alleged Abdi, who is Lalit Modi's trusted lieutenant.

"Moreover, BCCI wanted to take advantage of lawyers strike here (Jaipur) to delay the matter. But ultimately justice prevailed and RCA has a reason to smile for a while at least. We would carry on with its fight against the unlawful suspension of RCA and the arm twisting tactic of the apex cricket body of the country," said Abdi.

Meanwhile, in another move, the suspended RCA is all set to file a PIL on behalf of the state cricketers against the BCCI, which has kept it away from the domestic calendar.

Asked about it, Abdi said that the process is going on.

"I am not aware how many players have signed on the PIL application but it is likely to file in a day or two," said Abdi.

Sources said RCA officials had summoned all cricketers of different age groups and tried to convince to come forward as it was a fight for their own cause.

"The players were under tremendous pressure and while most of them bowed and signed some of the top players have refused to do so as they feel that such a move might jeopardize their chances of playing for the country," he said.

"It is unfair to drag players in legal battle. What options they have? They will be victimized by the BCCI or by the RCA, whichever way they go, they would be the sufferers," he added.

Photograph: Arko Datta/Reuters