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Bindra alleges anti-North bias

"The Board is trying to get back at us for having voted against their candidate. North Zone is being discriminated against," I S Bindra, president of the Punjab Cricket Association, alleged today.

The former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India said today, "It is time the BCCI's dirty politics is exposed."

"Why don't we just restrict politics to the boardrooms? There is no point in spilling it on to the field," Bindra told rediff.com from his home in Chandigarh. He was reacting to the announcement of the teams for the Challenger Trophy tournament.

North Zone players have had a reasonably good domestic season. A majority of them figured in the just-concluded Duleep and Deodhar Trophy tournaments, and five were in the victorious under-19 World Cup squad. But surprisingly, only five players -- of whom two are from Punjab -- from the Zone found a place in the Challenger Trophy teams.

"Does that mean if you do not vote in favour of the power groups you will be victimised? How can the cricket officials direct and mould the decision of the selectors?" inquired Bindra.

"When Harbhajan Singh inquired with zonal selector Madan Lal about his non-inclusion in the zone side, he was told in very harsh terms to either leave the Punjab team or forget about playing for India. Is this becoming of a national selector to talk in such harsh terms with a youngster?" Bindra asked.

According to Bindra, Madan Lal told Harbhajan Singh that Punjab has no chance any longer in domestic cricket.

"Why else did Ashish Kapoor, a Punjab player, go to Tamil Nadu and then play for India? I want to expose the hideous ways of the Board to the people through the media. That is the reason I had a press briefing yesterday," he said angrily.

Bindra feels Punjab is not the only team that is being discriminated against. He claims players from the other cricket associations which voted against the current BCCI regime during last year's Board election, have suffered the same fate.

When rediff.com caught up with Madan Lal at the Delhi District Cricket Association ground on Monday afternoon, he said, "I have great respect for Bindra. I do not want to join issues with him. But I have not made any such statements to anybody."

Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association secretary Major S C Nayyar was disappointed that his son Rajiv was not included in the teams.

"Who can fight with the selectors? Himachal Pradesh is a very backward area and since the team does not even make it to the super league there is very little scope for him (Rajiv Nayyar) to prove his talent," he said.

Besides Himachal Pradesh, Bindra feels Hyderabad has also been discriminated against because they voted against current BCCI office-bearers during the Board election.

But Hyderabad batsman V V S Laxman was included in the team to Australia?

"Yes, but what about Azhar?" quipped Bindra

Chairman of the Selectors Chandu Borde refused to react to Bindra's accusations, but said the players Bindra is talking about are not one-day players.

"The selection committee took into account all factors before announcing the teams for the Challenger Trophy. These are matters that cannot be discussed by me without consulting the other selectors," a reluctant Borde said from his home in Pune.