Former Indian captain Anil Kumble and pacer Javagal Srinath will not contest in the ensuing elections for the posts of president and secretary of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for which they were elected in 2010.
Former India captain Anil Kumble and his ex-teammate Javagal Srinath today said they would not seek re-election in next month's Karnataka State Cricket Association elections. Kumble and Srinath were the president and secretary of Karnataka State Cricket Association respectively.
Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath
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Denying that they were not seeking re-election due to criticism from some sections of the association, Kumble said after retiring from first class cricket, they contested for the posts only to promote the game across the state by providing better infrastructure and encouragement to the younger generation to
excel.u00a0"I am not seeking re-election. It is not due to criticism from some quarters or from KSCA members.
I think a new committee with fresh ideas is necessary for good of cricket. I think it is necessary," Kumble told reporters here. The 43-year-old said all his life as a cricketer he has faced criticism and went ahead and achieved whatever he wanted to on the field. "It is but quite natural that you face criticism in every walk of life and I and my group also faced as such. My main aim was to promote the game not to seek re-election," Kumble said.
Kumble and Srinath, along with Venkatesh Prasad took charge of the KSCA in November 21, 2010. They were part of a group along with former Test all-rounder Roger Binny and Bangalore-based industrialist Sadanand Mayya. Kumble and company defeated Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, scion of the Mysore Royal family, by a margin of 33 votes.
Asked wouldn't it be better to continue the good work by seeking re-election, Kumble said: "I and my colleagues are not running away from responsibilities. Even without holding top positions, I and my group will share thoughts for the good of cricket." Asked whether there was any link between not seeking re-election and joining politics, Kumble said: "Don't bring in politics. We are here to talk about what as administrators we have done.
Joining politics and contesting on BJP ticket is news for me." The former India spinner also hoped that the new committee would carry forward the developmental work taken up under his presidentship. "It has been a privilege to contribute to KSCA. We will support whoever comes to power and contribute towards cricket in the state in any way we can," he said.
Srinath said it was the group's intention to hold office for just one term. u00a0Srinath said their intention was not to hold on to posts but be engaged with the game. "After playing for the country so long, we held the posts only for the cause of cricket. We did our best to improve the game. We are optimistic that the next committee will take the game forward," he said.
The nearly 80-year-old association has about 2,000 members with 25 of them holding various posts on its committee, including two nominated. u00a0The next KSCA elections are scheduled to be held next month.u00a0
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