I didn't stop Kumble, supported his KSCA nomination: Patel

Former Karnataka State Cricket Association Secretary Brijesh Patel today rebutted President Anil Kumble's allegations that he tried to stop the former leg-spinner from contesting the KSCA polls, saying that he never attempted such a move.

"The dates Anil has mentioned are all dates after I had already announced that I am stepping aside to support Team Kumble, so where  is the question of me thwarting his nomination," he said in a statement here.

"Also, the dates he is mentioning were after the last date of nominations were completed and there were only 2 contestants for the post of president," Patel clarified.

The KSCA bylaw said for a Test cricketer to become a member, there used to be a two-year cooling off period (after retirement).

Kumble retired on November 2, 2008 and the elections were in 2010 but a Special General Meeting was called specifically to change that bylaw.

On January 17, 2010, the meeting was held stating that those cricketers who have played more than 50 Tests for India, when they retire, can immediately become members of KSCA.

Patel said it was under his tenure as secretary that a Special General Body Meeting was called to give membership to cricketers who played for more than 50 Tests.

In fact, Patel said as the Returning Officer of the 2010 KSCA elections, he had held Kumble's nomination valid and had rejected one of the member's representation raising the issue.

Patel said Kumble seems to be suffering from a bout of amnesia as all the office-bearers in the team he is backing in the forthcoming elections, including Sadanand Maiya and A V Jayaprakash, were all part of the managing committee during the said 12 years where he claimed there was no progress.

"As I understand, they are trying to back a team who has not contributed "anything" in the said 12 years and are trying to remote-control the association without taking any responsibility," he alleged.

Patel alleged that Team Kumble's callous attitude was reflected at the KSCA Platinum Jubilee Celebrations.

Talking about his contribution to KSCA, Patel said he was never in the habit of bragging about his achievements in last 12 years.

"Members know what has been my contribution to KSCA from my cricketing days to my administrative stint," he said.