Fake cricket teams in Agra tournament

 ‘Fake’ cricket teams at a government cricket tournament being held in Agra have shocked authorities and prompted them to order a thorough probe into ascertaining the authenticity of all teams taking part in the championship.

Two teams from two different divisions of the state have so far been found to be fake in the ongoing Under-19 C K Naidu cricket tournament for secondary schools organised by the state education department.

On Friday, the authorities, acting on a complaint, found that the team representing the Azamgarh division was a fake one. “The Azamgarh education officials informed that they had not sent any team in the tournament,” the organisers said.

The matter came to light after the team from Aligarh division, which had played the Azamgarh team and lost on Friday, lodged a complaint alleging that a majority of players in their opponent team were outsiders.

The probe revealed that the Azamgarh team had produced forged documents to take part in the tournament. “The letters by the district education officials had been forged,” the officials said.

“Three persons have been taken into custody in this connection and a thorough probe is being conducted,” police official said.

Two days back, the team from Allahabad division was also found to be fake.
“It is really shocking. We are now ascertaining the authenticity of the all the participating teams to find out if there are more fake teams,” said an official of the UP education department here.

The official was at a loss to explain the possible reasons behind it. “Only a thorough probe will reveal all the facts,” he said.

The officials, however, said the participant players get weightage in government jobs. “They may have thought that a participation certificate would help them in getting government employment,” said an official.