Venkatesh Prasad, the former India cricketer, was elected as the president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association on December 7. Prasad, helming Team Game Changers, defeated KN Shanth Kumar of Team Brijesh.
Santosh Menon and Sujith Somasunder have been elected as the secretary and vice-president, respectively.
In August this year, in their election manifesto, the Prasad-led team had shared their thoughts on getting cricket back to the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Ever since the tragic stampede incident during RCB’s IPL victory celebrations, no competitive match has been held at the stadium.
Incidentally, DK Shivakumar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka and a life member of the KSCA, had said this to the reporters after casting his vote today: “Will not allow IPL matches to be shifted out of Chinnaswamy Stadium. This is a question of Bengaluru and Karnataka’s pride. We will ensure IPL matches are held here.”
Earlier, in a press meet, Prasad had also come down heavily on Team Brijesh. “By saving so much money, you have neglected the sport which has given Chinnaswamy the status. Your international matches have been taken away from the stadium due to the unfortunate stampede. What was the reason for the authorities to write a letter to have the celebrations? It is franchise cricket, not state cricket. You need to take proper approval from the authorities. Despite the stampede, four of them, who were in the previous committee, are contesting now.
“One of them is contesting as an office-bearer. I don’t want to take the name. And the person who is contesting for that office-bearer position had resigned on moral grounds just three months back (in the aftermath of the stampede). In three months, the morality is gone. Who is putting this team together? It is only Brijesh Patel. And it is called ‘Team Brijesh Patel.’ Look, he is a very good cricketer, played at the highest level. He has been a good administrator, I admire that. But what is the point in controlling from behind? It is backseat-driving syndrome,” he pointed out.
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