Johri informs CoA of NCA trainer being appointed without test
In a letter to CoA has informed that one of the trainers approved by them hadn’t attended the BCCI’s workshop on sports science or appeared for the examination
The appointment of a trainer at Board of Control for Cricket in India’s National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru has come under the scanner. BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, in a letter to the Committee of Administrators (CoA), has informed that one of the trainers approved by them hadn’t attended the BCCI’s workshop on sports science or appeared for the examination at the end of it. Conducted last year, the test was undertaken by 23 applicants.
Johri, in the communication, says that the appointment of the trainer in question, Sohum Desai, was approved by the CoA based on information provided by BCCI’s General Manager (Cricket Operation) MV Sridhar. According to the information made available to the CoA, which later proved false, Desai ranked second in the test.
Confirming the development to The Indian Express, Johri, in a text message, said, “I have reported the matter to the CoA and the office-bearers, will await their decision on the issue.” Sridhar, meanwhile, refused to comment on the matter. Interestingly, the examination for the trainers was conducted by the Indian team’s strength and conditioning coach Shankar Basu, who of late has been facing conflict-of-interest allegations. According to PTI, at the September 15 meeting in New Delhi, members had questioned Sridhar about the “process of Desai’s appointment as he has been associated with Basu’s personal fitness centre ‘Primal Patterns”.
Sridhar, speaking to PTI on the question of Desai’s appointment, had said, “The boy came second in the exam and that’s why he got the job. I don’t think there is any conflict of interest.”
After the report, CoA sought a report from Johri. In his letter to the CoA, Johri says, “Sohum Desai did not attend the SSM Trainers Workshop and neither did he appear for the exam. I brought this issue up with Dr. Sridhar and he told me that even he was not aware that Sohum had not appeared for the test but was relying on Basu’s recommendation.”
Johri’s letter also mentions that the test was conducted at the NCA under Basu’s supervision while Ian Finley of South Africa evaluated the papers.
The appointment of a trainer at Board of Control for Cricket in India’s National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru has come under the scanner. BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, in a letter to the Committee of Administrators (CoA), has informed that one of the trainers approved by them hadn’t attended the BCCI’s workshop on sports science or appeared for the examination at the end of it. Conducted last year, the test was undertaken by 23 applicants.
Johri, in the communication, says that the appointment of the trainer in question, Sohum Desai, was approved by the CoA based on information provided by BCCI’s General Manager (Cricket Operation) MV Sridhar. According to the information made available to the CoA, which later proved false, Desai ranked second in the test.
Confirming the development to The Indian Express, Johri, in a text message, said, “I have reported the matter to the CoA and the office-bearers, will await their decision on the issue.” Sridhar, meanwhile, refused to comment on the matter. Interestingly, the examination for the trainers was conducted by the Indian team’s strength and conditioning coach Shankar Basu, who of late has been facing conflict-of-interest allegations. According to PTI, at the September 15 meeting in New Delhi, members had questioned Sridhar about the “process of Desai’s appointment as he has been associated with Basu’s personal fitness centre ‘Primal Patterns”.
Sridhar, speaking to PTI on the question of Desai’s appointment, had said, “The boy came second in the exam and that’s why he got the job. I don’t think there is any conflict of interest.”
After the report, CoA sought a report from Johri. In his letter to the CoA, Johri says, “Sohum Desai did not attend the SSM Trainers Workshop and neither did he appear for the exam. I brought this issue up with Dr. Sridhar and he told me that even he was not aware that Sohum had not appeared for the test but was relying on Basu’s recommendation.”
Johri’s letter also mentions that the test was conducted at the NCA under Basu’s supervision while Ian Finley of South Africa evaluated the papers.
(Courtesy: The Indian Express)
