Bihar association secretary Aditya Verma bats for rights of unrecognised cricket states

New Delhi: Petitioner in the IPL spot-fixing case, Aditya Verma, wrote on Friday to Chief Ministers of states, whose cricket bodies have not been recognised by the BCCI, to raise the issue of fundamental rights of players. Verma, who is also the secretary of the unrecognised Cricket Association of Bihar, has been at loggerheads with the BCCI over the issue of recognition to various state bodies. [caption id=“attachment_2345010” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo of Aditya Verma[/caption] The letter directed to the states of Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Uttrakhand, Telangana, Puduchery, Andaman and Nicobar, Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, and Lakshadweep raises the issue of violation of fundamental rights of the cricketers of these states and Union territories. “The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is a society registered body. In its motto BCCI said that to promote the cricket in entire India, but the fact is that BCCI never gave opportunity to above mentioned states to enable their young cricketers grow at the national level. Cricket is a popular game of the nation. Every citizen of the country loves cricket and watches cricket,” said Verma in his letter. “My humble request to you is to raise your voice against the violation of fundamental rights of your state cricketers. After historical order dated - 22.01.2015 by Supreme Court of India, BCCI is a public function body, it cannot be ruled by its own rules because it selects the Indian team, also recommends its cricketers for prestigious sports awards to the Sports Ministry, Government of India.” “The Supreme court constituted Justice Lodha Committee has already asked the BCCI about the procedure of granting membership to state cricket associations,” the letter added. The letter has also been sent to Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. PTI