JOIN US'Cricket, members paramount to us'
Having received the biggest possible mandate from the voters, the Karnataka State Cricket Association president-elect, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar and secretary-elect Brijesh Patel said the interests of the members would be paramount to them.
The Wadiyar-Brijesh combine won all the 23 seats that went to polls at the Annual General Body Meeting here on Sunday while the BDK Sports Club, which won from the Dharwad Zone unopposed, has declared its support for the winning group. With this the Wadiyar-Brijesh panel, which joined hands to fight the elections, has bagged all the 24 seats in the Managing Committee.
“The interests of the members of the KSCA will be paramount to Wadiyar-Brijesh combine,” declared Wadiyar during a press conference dominated by his supporters. “We shall definitely try to have all the facilities (for the members) and honour their rights. All senior citizens will be given their due respect and honour.”
Wadiyar also had good news for clubs. “As far as the clubs are concerned, we shall definitely try to reduce the financial burden (on them) and try to support cricket at the club level.
“The Karnataka Premier League and other tournaments that have been discontinued since 2010, we will bring them back. We will take up cricket development in various parts of the state and we shall upgrade the stadium to a world-class facility with modernised lighting, drainage system and rain water harvesting,” he pointed out.
Brijesh thanked the voters for the massive mandate. “We can’t expect a better mandate than this -- 24 out of 24 is a great mandate,” he noted. “Now the ball is in our court and we need to deliver in the next three years. And in all areas – one is cricket which is very, very important. Our first target is to see that the Ranji Trophy team does well and that junior cricket is played and revived. Many of the tournaments, which were not conducted in the last three years is what we want to take care of,” he remarked.
Wadiyar disclosed the seeds of his union with Brijesh were sown way back in 2008 when the two were in power. “In fact, five years ago, towards the end of 2008, Brijesh made a proposal that both of us should join hands,” he revealed. “However, due to various exigencies, it was not possible immediately to fructify. After the last election, both of us decided that it is time that in the interests of the members of the KSCA, both of us joined hands. It could only strengthen the KSCA.”
Brijesh maintained they will continue the work started by the previous committee. “Besides the club house and other infrastructure works taken up by the previous committee, we will continue to develop the grounds and the stadia in the mofussil areas as well.
“As it is our vision, in each and every district, we would like to have one facility of our own and also we will request the government to allot us some land so that we can have all our academies, programmes in mofussil areas,” he offered.
Outgoing duo of president Anil Kumble and secretary Javagal Srinath met Wadiyar-Brijesh group and congratulated them on their big win. The statements from new treasurer Dayanand Pai, however, struck a sore note. “This is not a victory for our team but a victory for the members of the KSCA,” he began. “The members have taught them a lesson for their arrogance and egoism.”