Even when not playing Jadeja is in the news

Even when he is not playing, he overshadows the cricketers who perform well on the field. That's Ajay Jadeja for you. The latest episode surrounding his eligibility to play for North Zone in the on going Deodhar Trophy tournament might have had a happy ending for him. But one is not sure whether the last has been heard on this controversy.

Out of the Indian team and then out of the North Zone team. That's the sad predicament Jadeja found himself in till Friday night. If he was ruled out of the Indian team to Australia because of injury he was out of the North Zone team on controversial and technical grounds. But dramatically Jadeja was again included at the last minute in the North Zone team that ultimately defeated East Zone at Baroda on Saturday. And thereby hangs a tale full of intrigue and ups and downs that would do justice to a film script.

Jadeja, commencing his comeback trail, was chosen to lead Wills XI in the Wills Trophy tournament earlier this month. Wills XI lost to Karnataka in the opening round and Jadeja scored 14 and conceded 23 runs in four overs. Ostensibly he was not included in the North Zone team - which was announced before the Wills XI was chosen - because there were still doubts over his fitness. Once these doubts were cleared, following his showing in the Wills Trophy game, Jadeja was a last minute inclusion in the North Zone team which played West Zone in the Deodhar Trophy opener on January 19. He played a leading role in North Zone's victory by scoring a brilliant 91 and effecting a couple of run outs.

Jadeja was included in the team by manager Suresh Luthra on a directive from national selector from North Zone Madan Lal. The former Indian all rounder obviously felt that with Jadeja having cleared doubts over his fitness, a player of his calibre, eager to make a comeback into the national side, should play in the Deodhar Trophy as well. ``As far as I am concerned I have acted in the best interest of the game,'' he is quoted to have said.

Sunil Dev, the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association secretary, however questioned Madan Lal's authority in forcing Luthra to include Jadeja. Dev's objection was on eligibility grounds. Jadeja is not registered with any North Zone unit. According to Dev, ``that is the reason why his name was not even discussed in the selection committee when the North Zone team was picked.''

Dev disclosed that he has received compalaints from the other state units on Jadeja's inclusion and as such wrote to Luthra not to include Jadeja for North's next match, which was against East Zone at Baroda on Saturday. He also sought an explanation from Madan Lal, termed the act as ``gross indiscipline'' and said he had informed the president and secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India about this ``unconstitutional'' act.

However following hectic negotiations, Luthra received phone calls from various officials from the North Zone including DDCA vice president Chetan Chauhan, BCCI vice president CK Khanna and Madan Lal. It transpired that most of the North Zone states had been taken into confidence regarding Jadeja's inclusion except Dev who was the zonal selection committee convenor.

In a truly dramatic scenario, North Zone, on putting East Zone in on Saturday, took the field with ten players with Jadeja's name figuring in the playing eleven. Hardly had the match started when Jadeja entered the playing arena. By bowling eight overs, picking up two wickets, by fielding well and throwing in accurately from the deep, Jadeja proved his fitness in the presence of Chandu Borde, the chairman of the selection committee and BCCI secretary JY Lele.

So all's well that ends well? Somehow one has the feeling that the last has not been heard on this controversial subject.

On technical grounds, Jadeja is still at a disadvantage. After more than a decade with Haryana, he opted out of the state side. Early in the season there were reports that Jadeja may turn out as a professional for Jammu & Kashmir. But pre-occupied as he was first with matches against New Zealand and then his injury, Jadeja could not have, in any case, played for J & K. His letter to the BCCI indicating his desire to play for J & K was received well after the September 30 deadline for registrations. So, as things stand, he is neither with Haryana nor with J & K. Despite opinion veering in his favour, Jadeja is still not in safe waters. One only hopes that petty minded officials do not make a big issue over the whole episode and that the controversy does not have a snowballing and detrimental effect on a player who still has much to contribute to Indian cricket.