Physically challenged cricket body to take legal route for fair selection

The Physically Challenged Cricket Association (PCCAI) has decided to take the legal route to ensure players affiliated to them get a fair representation when the ‘Indian' team for a five-nation cricket tournament in Bangladesh is selected.

PCCAI's founder secretary Ravi Chauhan accused the former India skipper Ajit Wadekar-headed All India Cricket Association for the Physically Challenged (AICAPC) of unfair selection trials that were conducted in Mulund recently.

"We have no other option but to take a legal route now. We will be filing the case in the Punjab High Court. We met sports ministry officials and BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur, and they have assured us that they will look into the matter. If the team that AICAPC has selected is sent for the competition, India's pride will be at stake. There are hardly any players in their team, who know to play with a season ball," said Chauhan.

Although AICAPC had selected five PCCAI players, Chauhan demanded the inclusion of a sixth player -- Iqbal Khan in the 15-member team, but AICAPC refused.

The five PCCAI players selected had decided not to take any further part in the selection trials after claiming unfair selection. AICAPC secretary TP Mirajkar had termed Chauhan's allegations to be baseless. The International Committee of the Red Cross, who are organising the five-nation tourney, had asked AICAPC to send a combined team for the event that will be held in September.