Bengaluru: Former India medium-fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad has criticised the delay in holding elections to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), which were initially scheduled for September 30. Nearly a month has passed since that date, yet there has been no official announcement regarding the elections, with KSCA officials declining to comment on the matter. Prasad questioned the prolonged silence from “people running the show” and called for transparency and accountability in Karnataka cricket administration. Speaking at a media gathering here on Monday, Prasad did not mince his words, saying: “According to the rule, elections should’ve happened on September 30, but we still have no clue about when they’re going to be conducted. Since there are hardly any office-bearers left, it’s high time the people running the show announce the election dates.” He further said: “KSCA, in its letter dated June 24, said they would be conducting the elections by September 30. Then why have they not adhered to it?” Barring the joint secretary, KSCA currently has no office-bearers. While Raghuram Bhat, who was the president, was elected BCCI treasurer last month, vice-president K. Sriram resigned earlier this month. Secretary A. Shankar and A. E. Jairam, the treasurer, resigned on June 7, citing moral responsibility for the stampede at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in June, in which 11 people lost their lives. Prasad, a former KSCA vice-president, also lamented the deteriorating condition of Chinnaswamy Stadium. He added: “Looking at the chaos inside and outside, people are laughing at us. The best example is that (Women’s) World Cup matches have been taken out of here.” Prasad’s words found an echo in former KSCA treasurer Vinay Mruthyunjaya and former India captain Shantha Rangaswamy, who also rued the current state of affairs at KSCA. Prasad further said: “I am given to understand that the managing committee is trying to misinterpret the bylaws to disqualify a few able administrators, citing the nine-year rule. But that didn’t apply to many, including former presidents Roger Binny and Raghuram Bhat.”
