Malhotra may move court against Arun Lal
M. Chhaya in Kolkata
Former Test opener Ashok Malhotra, who is confronting the newly formed Indian Cricket Players' Association (ICPA), is mulling legal action against ICPA secretary Arun Lal on charges of financial irregularity.
Malhotra, who has raised objections to the formation of ICPA when
a similar body, Association of India Cricketers, already existed, had written a letter to Lal seeking certain financial details relating to the old association. Lal was the secretary of that outfit started in 1989.
AIC became dysfunctional shortly after its formation. But, the ICPA detractors say there was no need for the new body as the old one could have been revived.
Lal has not replied to Malhotra's letter asking for details of the AIC's bank account and the Rs.1 million which was then raised by cricketers.
"He (Lal) is now busy with the cricket commentary job. But, if he doesn't reply to my letter in another few days, I'll have to think of moving the court," Malhotra said.
Malhotra has hinted at financial misappropriation by Lal saying the AIC's Rs.1 million has surprisingly disappeared. Lal has refuted the charge saying the money "must be lying in the bank the way it was then."
Malhotra and a few other former cricketers are alleged to be opposing ICPA at the behest of Board of Control for Cricket in India president Jagmohan Dalmiya who has openly expressed his displeasure with the idea of a players' forum, which can pose a challenge to his unquestioned control over the country's cricketing establishment.
Malhotra is in the midst of reviving the AIC to challenge the ICPA. He claims to have the support of former internationals like Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Robin Singh, who were members of the old body.
Malhotra, who claims the ICPA will only fight for the senior players, said he would hold talks with former cricketer Sanjeev Sharma on reviving AIC and getting first class players to register with it.
Mail Cricket Editor
