Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led PDP-BJP government’s cricket diplomacy failed Monday when Court stayed the election of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), holding that Dr Farooq Abdullah would continue to be head of the cricket body till further orders.Excise magistrate (Jammu) Arvinder Singh Langeh stayed the JKCA executive committee decision removing the former chief minister from president ship of the association.Following a suit filed on his behalf before the excise magistrate Jammu, the court directed: “Any decision if taken in the JKCA meeting today shall remain in abeyance till further orders.”Earlier in the day, the JKCA voted out former chief minister and National Conference leader Dr Farooq Abdullah as its president, thereby ending the Sheikh dynasty’s more than 30 years occupation of the chair of state’s prestigious cricket body.
Imran Ansari, Minister of Youth Services and Sports, was elected as new president. He secured 42 out of total 64 votes. Former bureaucrat Mehboob Iqbal was elected as the new chairman, Muhammad Iqbal the general secretary and Abdul Rouf the new treasurer.The elections were held under the supervision of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Dr. Asgar Samoon and Deputy Commissioner Youth Service and Sports at Sheri Kashmir Cricket Stadium today at 11:00 am. Most of the JKCA members having voting rights took part in the elections, while as two dozen members considered close to Dr Abdullah skipped the elections.Dr Abdullah, who was President JKCA since 1980, decided not to contest.
Terming the JKCA elections as undemocratic, he said his “ouster” was illegal and that he had a three-year term to serve as the board's president.This is the first time Farooq Abdullah has lost control of the JKCA after 1980 when he was first elected president of the association.JKCA came in bad light and role of Dr Abdullah as its president came under scanner after around Rs 100 crore scam surfaced in the cricket body following a PIL filed by former state Ranji team player Majid Yaqoob Dar and club cricketer Nisar Ahmad Khan with regards to an alleged multi-crore scam.Meanwhile, Dr Abdullah has called an extraordinary meeting of JKCA where it is believed to be discussed how to challenge Ansari’s election as new president.