PORVORIM
Goa Cricket Association Academy ground, Porvorim, on Sunday afternoon witnessed a scene from a potboiler.
Unfolding itself from outside the State cricket hub, was a mob of agitated and disgruntled GCA members lending support to the opposite faction crying their voices hoarse to take the "perpetrators" of the ruling GCA committee to task for alleged corruption. Vehemently in support, was a newly formed association under the name of Goa Ex-Ranji Players Association demanding that the "dirt polluting the environment and reputation" of GCA be weeded out. While this entire melee was on, a posse of policemen was at bay.
Taking cognizance of the situation getting out of hand, Vinod Phadke, the GCA Secretary came out from within the precincts of the Academy, amidst chants against him, to inform the opposition that the meeting that was to be held with the club members was adjourned. Incidentally, life members were disallowed entry as they had not submitted their names to the GCA of the meeting that was to take place.
The chagrined mob had to be controlled by a PI Dalvi-led posse of khaki-clad men who stopped the advancing mob from entering the premises. It was then, that the GCA President Chetan Desai made his presence felt assuring the teeming crowd that the meeting with the club members was adjourned. With that as solace, the mob dispersed. But not before ex-Ranji cricketers, Hemant Angle, Namdev Phadte, Aditya Angle categorically stated that they will take up cudgels against the ruling committee with the Government and demand for an administrator in the interim period.
Earlier, the members of the GCA who had the meeting decided to form a new committee to probe into the alleged irregularities plaguing the cricket body. The three-member committee is headed Vasco Cricket Club President Dr Baban Parulekar, and also includes Narahar Thakur and Adv Bhiv Shet. The committee was formed with a suggestion coming from GCA with the approval of around 85 clubs (of 106 affiliated to the GCA) to address the situation at the association going out hand and bring it into control.
Meanwhile, Subhash Phaldesai, the Sanguem MLA, while stating that he has no cricketing background, stated that he was present as he stood for justice. Phaldesai assured the aggrieved cricket club members, former Ranji players and the media that he will take up the matter with Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and get an administrator duly appointed.
Vilas Desai, in the opposition, stated that he will meet the CM within two days to demand that he appoint an administrator for GCA. He said if the demand is not accepted, he will call for a meeting with members of the clubs to take a decision on their next course of action. It has to be noted that four days earlier, Vilas had submitted a memorandum to Parsekar with the same demand.
