Bhopal Division Cricket Association (BDCA) president Dhruv Narayan Singh said on Thursday that Arif Aqueel was not entitled to convene annual general meeting (AGM) of the association as the post of chairman didn’t exist in BDCA. A day after Arif Aqueel faction ousted Dhruv Narayan from the post of president and unanimously elected Aqueel in his place, Dhruv Narayan in a press conference said the manner in which hockey association died in Bhopal was there for all to see and if politics was allowed to dominate sports and sportpersons, the cricket association could also meet the same fate.

When reminded that he himself had been chairman, BDCA, for four years before being elected its president, Singh said he was not aware that there could be no chairman in the association then.

Getting personal against Aqueel, an obviously peeved Dhruv Narayan said, “People also know who had killed Shafiq Pahalwan and later got acquitted because of lack of evidence”.

He said that his men have recorded Wednesday’s AGM in three cameras. He said, “Not only the election is illegal but 16 people who cast their votes are not members of the BDCA.”

Singh said he would like the MP Cricket Association (MPCA) to give a fair chance to both the factions to put forth their views and everything would be clear.
On the allegation that he used his clout with registrar, firms and society to stop the BDCA election in 2012, Dhruv Narayan said that BDCA was declared defunct in 2000 itself, how could he be held responsible for it.

Aqueel, however, denied all the allegations. Aqueel said, “Singh faction can’t prove that fake persons have cast votes in the election. I have photographs of members and voters’ list to prove that none of the members were fake. He is using his clout as ruling party MLA. I will present the members’ list to chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Kailash Vijaywargiya.”

Besides registrar, firms and society, Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) decision will play an important role in it. Both groups have faith in the MPCA.