Blame it on rain? Not quite, says a reort in The Times Of India, adding that the story behind Jaipur's loss is one of ego and apathy. The fight for supremacy between the Rajasthan State Sports Council and the Rajasthan Cricket Association has resulted in loss of face for the state. In a major embarrassment for the state, the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in its current condition, was declared unfit to hold the Irani Trophy (scheduled from September 21).
"Make no mistake, it's not rains, it's sheer incompetence," Sanjay Dixit tweeted. He missed out on the ego part, a tussle that is the main culprit in this fiasco.
Having barred the RCA officials from entering the ground, the sports council did not have the equipment to maintain a ground of SMS's stature. Even as the two bodies took their battle to court rooms and official corridors, the SMS lay unattended.
Finally, when the RCA did get possession of the ground on September 3, courtesy a state government communique, the cricket body claimed it was too late to get ready for the Irani Trophy. "The sports council is entirely to be blamed," an RCA official fumed.
The Irani Cup match will not be played at Jaipur. The alternate venue for the match, scheduled from September 21 to 25, would be announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) by Tuesday, says a report in The Hindu, adding that the Board’s Ground and Pitches Committee chairman Venkat Sundaram inspected the Sawai Man Singh Stadium (SMSS) facilities on Saturday and decided to move the match out of Jaipur.
“Due to heavy rain, the outfield and pitch are not in the best of conditions and we can’t take the chance for such a big match. It wouldn’t have been possible to get the facilities ready by September 21,” said Sundaram, who submitted his report to the Board.
The Rajasthan Sports Council, meanwhile, sought to clear its role in the episode. According to the RSC spokesman, the Rajasthan Cricket Council had delayed in applying for renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and it led to the present situation.
Meanwhile The Indian Express reports that the Irani Cup match scheduled to be held in Jaipur from September 21 to 25 was shifted to another venue after the BCCI Pitch and Grounds Committee Chairman Venkat Sundaram found the Sawai Man Singh Stadium pitch unsuitable for the important tie because of rains.
“It was saddening to note that Sawai Man Singh stadium ground which was voted the best in IPL has deteriorated and looked shabby. There was lot moisture in the pitch and the outfield too was in bad shape,” Sundaram said. The preparation was also hit hard by the war of egos between the Rajasthan Cricket Association and the Rajasthan State Sports Council which reportedly handed the ground late to RCA.
