Jaipur | October 04, 2005 4:53:30 PM IST


Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) president and Sharad Pawar
loyalist Lalit Modi today claimed if their group comes to power in
the forthcoming elections, the Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI) will have its own channel.
The idea mooted by Mr Modi and former BCCI chief I S Bindra was
earlier shot down by the current regime.

''If Mr Pawar comes to power, the sports channel will be a
reality,'' said Mr Modi at the unveiling of the new logo of RCA by
former India captain Ajay Jadeja, who will represent the state this
season.

Mr Modi said the new logo represents the resurgence of the game in
Rajasthan and said English coach Derek Semmence has been appointed
as coach for the junior team while Australian Bob Simpson will also
join as advisor for the Ranji team.

Talking about improving the game in the state he said, ''Rajasthan
will have an indoor cricket academy in the premises of the under-
renovation Sawai Man Singh Stadium at Jaipur. A proposal has already
been received by RCA from Australia and the same will be finalised
after the October 31 ODI between India and Sri lanka scheduled here
gets over.'' He said that to bring up the standard of Rajasthan
cricket, RCA will also have more coaches for the senior team and
names of them will be announced soon.

A known bete noire of the present BCCI establishment, Mr Modi
said, ''There is no transparency in the working of BCCI as it is in
the grip of Jagmohan Dalmiya. The states falling in line with
Dalmiya are given benefits while the rest including Rajasthan are
ignored.'' He said that he was confident that Mr Pawar will contest
the BCCI elections and come to power.

Mr Modi came down heavily on the present selection committee for
continuing with captain Sourav Ganguly in the team.

He said, ''Ganguly was continuing as India captain at the insistence
of Mr Dalmiya as the selection committee was fully under his
influence. Similarly, Ranbir Singh Mahendra is a non-existing
president of the Board as everything is controlled by Mr Dalmiya.