Rajasthan players could play under BCCI banner

In an attempt to break the deadlock with the Rajasthan Cricket Association, the BCCI is thinking of a scheme where players from the three disputed states of Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Bihar would play under the board's banner in the 2014-15 domestic season. While the BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel confirmed such a plan was on the cards, nothing has been finalised yet.

"We are concerned about the boys," Patel said. "We are trying to work out a scheme where players from the three disputed states, namely Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Bihar can be assembled as one team under the BCCI banner. We are trying to see if that is possible."

Patel reiterated that if a player from these disputed states wanted to switch to another association, the BCCI would give them the required No Objection Certificate. Patel also said a solution had to be found to help cricketers who could not play for any of the other states, and believed forming an umbrella team under the BCCI name could be a starting point.

He blamed the RCA for bringing matters to such a state and rejected any idea of the BCCI sitting with them to discuss the issue. "There is no question of sitting or not sitting. We have suspended the RCA," Patel said.

When asked if the Rajasthan government could play a mediatory role, Patel said he was open to finding a solution. "We tried to approach them," he said. "The sub-committee met up with the chief secretary and the sports secretary of the Rajasthan government. So far we have heard nothing from them."

In August, three members of the BCCI appointed ad-hoc committee, led by the chairman Brijesh Patel, met a Rajasthan government official to appraise him of the impasse. Despite being expelled by the BCCI, RCA president Lalit Modi had found a route back into administration through the Rajasthan Sports Act. The act also prohibits any independent body from using the Rajasthan name to represent any team. The BCCI wanted to check if the government could play the mediatory role in order to avoid future legal hassles. If the BCCI were to float a new team, it would need to amend one of its rules, which allows only full-member teams to participate in inter-state tournaments

Mehmood Abdi, the deputy president of the RCA, said the BCCI's plan would be deemed illegal.

"This suggestion is absolutely illegal. The BCCI can form an ad-hoc committee out of the other disputed state associations. We can't be clubbed with the others because in their case there is more than one claimant in each state; whereas our dispute is with the BCCI," he said. "Secondly, the Rajasthan Sports Act bars anybody representing the state other than through RCA. Those who are found to be indulging in any such move would be liable to criminal prosecution in Rajasthan."

Abdi said the RCA was on the verge of announcing the teams for various age-group tournaments including the Ranji Trophy, and that the BCCI would have to accept those teams.

"The players are in no dilemma," Abdi said. "All this confusion is motivated by the BCCI. The players are absolutely with us. They know that we will take care of our interests. We will ensure that our teams will play in the coming tournaments."