Patna, May 4: Bihar State Sports Authority has directed Cricket Academy of Bihar (CAB) to vacate the Moin-ul-Haq stadium premises immediately.
The CAB has been running its cricket training academy at the stadium for the past 10 years. In a letter written by the director-cum-secretary of the state sports authority, CAB president Amikar Dayal has been asked to vacate the land to allow fresh bidding.
The letter, a copy of which is with The Telegraph, was written on April 7. It states that the CAB has been running an academy on the southeast portion of the Moin-ul-Haq Stadium premises illegally, and the land should be vacated immediately.
Sources said the academy trains hundreds of students who aspire to become cricketers. Their training would be affected if the camp is removed from the stadium.
Arun Kumar Sinha, manager, Moin-ul-Haq Stadium, too, wrote a letter to Dayal asking him to vacate the land, after receiving the sports authority’s letter. Sinha’s letter also states that if Dayal fails to vacate the said plot in the next few days, force would be used.
Ajay Kumar Singh, director, Bihar State Sports Authority, told The Telegraph: “The authority had asked Dayal to vacate the land, as it has been occupied illegally for running the cricket academy.”
The sports authority’s letter also states that after vacating the plot, there would be fresh bidding. Those interested in running a training camp for budding cricketers in the state can take part in the bidding. According to the sports authority officials, the cricket training camp would be free for children and youths, and admissions to the camp would be done through a talent test.
Dayal, meanwhile, told The Telegraph that it was a nexus between some people who were trying to defame him. He also said that those behind this order have “anti-cricket attitude”.
Dayal said: “In 2000, when I was offered the plot of land, I was requested by the state government to do something conducive for the promotion of cricket. But now things have changed.”
He also said: “Under my guidance, around 160 budding cricketers have received professional training. They are representing various state teams at different levels. Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi’s son, Amitray Modi, had also taken training at the CAB camp.”
Sources said Dayal was handed over the plot of land by state government in 2000. The letter stated that CAB has been given the premises for promotion of cricket for a period of three years. The body was also directed to function under Bihar State Sports Authority. The academy was also asked not to charge any money or fees from the students. The sports authority letter also restricted CAB from starting any construction or extension on the premises without the permission from them.
Dayal, however, has been accused of taking fees from the children and youths, who join the training camp. He has also has carried out some construction work on the premises. He said: “As I don’t get any assistance from the state government, I am forced to take money from the children and youths to run the camp.”
The authorities had also asked Dayal to vacate the premises in 2006 but the issue was settled then.
