Powar (top) & Baruah

Guwahati, Nov. 9: Assam suffered a double blow in their ongoing Ranji Trophy tie against visiting Baroda.

The hosts have already conceded the first innings lead to Baroda on the third day.

Now Kiran Powar has accused Assam Cricket Association secretary Bikash Baruah of delaying the player?s inter-state transfer and holding back his Deodhar Trophy dues.

Baruah, as expected, hit back, dismissing the charges as baseless and claiming that Powar ditched Assam at the last moment.

?He wrote to us on September 30 for a transfer. I cleared his papers by October 4 after talking to BCCI secretary S.K. Nair, returning his dues to the board three days back as he had ceased to be our member,? said the ACA secretary.

?I don?t know what he is up to. He was the one who left us high and dry by switching sides despite repeatedly committing himself to play for Assam. I shall write to the BCCI about these charges,? Baruah said.

Powar, Assam?s main batsman in the past two seasons before he switched to Baroda, had earlier told The Telegraph exclusively that the treatment meted out to him by Baruah had caused him and his family acute mental anguish.

?I had applied on September 22 but got the clearance only after the chairman of the selectors? board, Kiran More, and the BCCI secretary intervened. The no-objection certificate was issued on condition that I would not play against Assam. He is even holding back my dues. This is very unfortunate. I am levelling these charges so that others don?t suffer the same fate. His behaviour is unbecoming of a secretary,? complained Powar, who still has dreams of playing for the country.

Assam Cricketers? Welfare Foundation president Devojit Saikia called for a thorough probe to get to the bottom of things.

?If the ACA has intentionally stopped Powar from leaving, it is really shameful. After all, Powar is a professional. As I see it, there can be no smoke without fire. A day is still left and the duo should sort out their differences amicably,? Saikia said.