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Baroda gives Martin benefit of doubt
MUMBAI: Although the Lodha Committee panel may find it objectionable, the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) defended its decision to appoint former India cricketer
MUMBAI: Although the Lodha Committee panel may find it objectionable, the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) defended its decision to appoint former India cricketer Jacob Martin, who was allegedly involved in human trafficking.
Martin was appointed as Baroda’s Ranji Trophy coach for the upcoming season after their last year’s coach Tushar Arothe had to step down from his position over conflict of interest. In Arothe’s first assignment with the senior team, Baroda reached the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, losing to Uttar Pradesh in the final.
Despite Martin’s criminal history, the 44-year-old was Baroda’s first choice coach. “Martin did exceedingly well with the Baroda U-23 team in the last season as the team lost in the quarterfinals of the Col CK Nayudu Trophy. He was the natural successor,” a BCA official said.
Martin is currently out on bail for his alleged involvement in New Delhi’s 2003 human-trafficking case. He was arrested in 2009 and was also sent to Tihar jail. He is accused of taking a youngster with a fake passport to the United Kingdom on the pretext of playing cricket. He is also accused of taking money in exchange for the trip.
However, as per reports, there is no charge-sheet filed in this case so far. The BCA said he is not proven of his crime and hence the benefit of doubt towards Martin. “There are two ways of looking at it. Tomorrow there can be an allegation on anyone of us, but you are not guilty of it until proven. As far as the law of the country is concerned, he is not yet convicted of the crime. If the court finds him guilty, we will remove him as the coach,” said the official.
Another BCA official said there was never a doubt about Martin’s cricketing acumen. “He has played the game in a fair manner. Ten Test matches and 138 First Class games is no joke. He has all the credentials to become a coach,” said the official.
Martin is confident of coming out clean. “I have full faith in the law and I am sure that I will come out clean. I just want to dedicate the rest of my life to the game and nothing else,” he was quoted as saying by a Mumbai tabloid.
