Guwahati, June 10: Leading sports personalities have termed as unfortunate the suspension of former secretary of the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) Nandan Bezbaruah for five years and called for an amicable settlement to the issue. The Telegraph caught up with some of them who expressed their views on the topic.
Excerpts:
- Robin Bordoloi (sports minister): It is indeed a very sad development. The issue should have been settled amicably in the greater interest of Assam cricket.
- Pulin Das (veteran sports-person): Since I am not aware of the issue in details, it will not be wise to comment on such a matter.
- Suren Phukan (ACA member): It is a very unhealthy sign, but from the papers tabled by the secretary, the ACA action is justified. However, an amicable settlement is always welcome for the good of Assam cricket, more so when the present secretary has initiated some pathbreaking measures to boost the game.
- Badal Thakur (former player): I really do not know. Still it is very unfortunate.
- Bimal Bharali (former player): I am not fully aware of the facts, but as a sportsman I would not have liked such a development. I would prefer an amicable and conducive atmosphere on all fronts.
- Prabir Hazarika (former player): I don’t know exactly what took place. Still, the development is unfortunate.
- J.K. Bora (sports organiser): It is disgusting. Such trends could prove to be detrimental for Assam cricket. It seems there is more to it than what meets the eye.
- Umesh Chandra Sarma (former player): I am not in a position to comment, as I am not fully aware of ACA’s internal affairs. But if the charges are true, the action is justified.
- Mukut Das (former player): The ACA claims the action is based on concrete evidence. If that is true, the action is justified. However, even then I must admit that his alleged offenses did not hamper cricket.
- Rajesh Bora (former player): This is really unfortunate.
- Nabab Ali (coach): Unfortunate. He did not deserve such a penalty. His contributions to Assam cricket have been totally ignored. It was under his leadership that Assam had some of its best moments.
Four tied at first spot
Sunday chess
Guwahati, June 10: FIDE-rated Santanu Singh of Cachar, Assam number 10 Satyabrata Handique, Guwahati champion Pradip Bhuyan and O.P. Sarma shared the lead with three points at the end of the third round of the Sunday chess league here.
Sankar Sarma and Meghnath Rava were in the second spot with 2.5 points on Sunday in the all-Assam prize-money championship, organised by the Guwahati Chess Association at the Manipuri Basti High School.
Sixteen players, including FIDE-rated Rajib Dhar of Guwahati, Mahendra Bora of Nagaon, Jimli Baruah and Labanya Deka, shared the third position with two points. The fourth and fifth rounds of the tournament will be held on June 14 and 15.
