All eyes are now on Assam Cricket Association’s hearing scheduled to take place on February 23, 2022, at 3:00 pm in Barsapara. After Silchar DSA’s General Secretary, Bijendra Prasad Singh wrote to the Assam Cricket Association complaining about the chain of events in the match between Jorhat and NF Railways’ U-19 team, the president of the association directed to constitute a committee and conduct a hearing in the presence of all the three stakeholders.
Silchar DSA issued a press statement thanking the ACA for its action, however, the final match between Jorhat and Dhemaji was not delayed and is currently ongoing. Jorhat qualified by scoring 38 runs in the last two overs to better the run-rate of Silchar and remain on top of the table. The NF Railways captain placed seven fielders in the slip cordon and asked the bowlers to ball sitters for the Jorhat batters to score runs freely. Silchar U-19 team was sitting at the top of the table with a run rate of 1.134 and due to the onslaught in the last two overs what was nothing but clear match-fixing, Jorhat managed to secure a run rate of 1.135 and thus qualify for the finals.
In form Silchar team was title contenders this year and the unfair exit has shocked them. The team members went to the NF Railway management and said, “It is our dream to once play for the NF Railways. We learn from the NF Railways team and admire the legends who have played for this team. This behaviour has shocked us all, NF Railways is the last team that we thought will do something like this.”
NF Railways has been a launchpad to the State Cricket team for decades. All top players played for the NF Railways team and at one stage, eight out of eleven players in the Ranji Trophy used to be from NF Railways. These allegations against the team deserve a departmental probe too.
Speaking with Barak Bulletin about the same, Sabyasachi De CPRO, NF Railway said, “Since ACA has already called for a hearing, we will act based on ACA’s hearing. We have the bindings to follow what the organisers in the form of ACA decide. Since the allegations are against us, it is only fair for us to act based on what the ACA directs. Once the ACA’s hearing is conducted and we have a report from the committee, we will take action.”
In the letter issued by ACA, the cricket body has invited Coach, Captain and Manager of Jorhat, Silchar and NF Railways team. The body has also invited the complainant, Bijendra Prasad Singh and asked him to remain present with all the necessary documents. While it was crystal clear, reports on a couple of daily broadsheets surfaced that TMC MP, Sushmita Dev has been invited to the hearing by the ACA.
Speaking with Barak Bulletin, Sushmita Dev, Rajya Sabha MP and former Silchar MP, rubbished the reports. “I have not got any such letter from the ACA. If the ACA invites me, I will be happy to present myself before the committee and share my views. But so far, I have no invitation from the Cricket body, written or verbal,” said Dev.
It is unfortunate that the Silchar Cricket Team, despite playing quality cricket could not take part in the ongoing final match. It is not just a matter of a district team, but these are the same set of players who will grow up to be a part of the State Cricket Team and stand shoulder to shoulder with their peers from Jorhat and NF Railways. This match-fixing leaves a bad taste to the state of cricket in Assam. Whatever judgement it may pass, ACA must ensure that such incidents do not take place on the cricket field ever again.
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