BCCI blames sports ministry for awards mix up

June 8, 2012

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has blamed its failure to select a player for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna or Arjuna Awwards
on the sports ministry.
The cricket board claims the sports ministry did not send the requisite
forms.
“We wish to clarify that unlike every year, the BCCI has not received
any forms for nominating cricketers for the Arjuna and Rajiv Gandhi
Khel Ratna Awards. It has been the practice of the sports ministry to
send the forms well in advance to the BCCI to nominate in the given
format, which includes the players’ acceptance and the BCCI’s
recommendation. Under the circumstances, the BCCI is not in a position
to recommend deserving cricketers for the awards like every year,” the
board said in a press release.
The ministry said the BCCI was at fault.A senior ministry official said:“The ministry of youth affairs and sports sent a circular on
January 28 by post, inviting nominations from all national sports federations including the BCCI. In addition, ministry officials
contacted the BCCI office and others NSFs over the phone in mid-April, reminding them to send the nominations before April 30. Besides this,
the circular and the forms were made available on the ministry’s website.”
“Anyone can come and check our records,” he said. When asked about the
BCCI’s refusal to accept responsibility was in denial mode, the official stated he believes the board is
pre-occupied with IPL matches. “The IPL is more important to the
BCCI than anything else. The practice of making forms available online
is known to everyone.” the official said.
BCCI chief administrative officer, Ratnakar Shetty, denies the
ministry’s claims.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has blamed its failure to select a player for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna or Arjuna Awwards on the sports ministry.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has blamed its failure to select a player for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna or Arjuna Awwards on the sports ministry.

The cricket board claims the sports ministry did not send the requisite forms.

“We wish to clarify that unlike every year, the BCCI has not received any forms for nominating cricketers for the Arjuna and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards. It has been the practice of the sports ministry tosend the forms well in advance to the BCCI to nominate in the givenformat, which includes the players’ acceptance and the BCCI’srecommendation. Under the circumstances, the BCCI is not in a positionto recommend deserving cricketers for the awards like every year,” the board said in a press release.

The ministry claimed the BCCI was at fault. A senior ministry official said: “The ministry of youth affairs and sports sent a circular on January 28 by post, inviting nominations from all national sports federations including the BCCI. In addition, ministry officialscontacted the BCCI office and others NSFs over the phone in mid-April, reminding them to send the nominations before April 30. Besides this, the circular and the forms were made available on the ministry’s website.”

“Anyone can come and check our records,” he said. When asked about the BCCI’s refusal to accept responsibility, the official stated he believes the board was pre-occupied with IPL matches. “The IPL is more important to the BCCI than anything else. The practice of making forms available onlineis known to everyone.” the official said.

BCCI chief administrative officer, Ratnakar Shetty, denies the ministry’s claims.

{jcomments on}