Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer’s resignation as Uttarakhand head coach has now taken an ugly turn, as the domestic batting legend was accused of communal bias and “favored” Muslim players during his tenure with the team.
Earlier this week, Jaffer stepped down as Uttarakhand coach citing interference from the state cricket board – Cricket Association of Uttarakhand (CAU), as he had no say in selection matters.
Following his resignation, CAU secretary Mahim Verma made serious allegations on the all-time highest Ranji Trophy run-scorer, saying the former coach had “communalized” the dressing room atmosphere and “favored” Muslim players during his stint with the state side.
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However, Jaffer denied all the allegations via a press conference by saying on Wednesday: “The allegations which have been made, these are serious allegations... The communal angle that has been leveled against me, that is very very sad, that I come and speak about it... you all know me and have seen me for a long time, so you all know how I am.”
He continued, “I never took any of the suggestions that were thrown at me (with regards to the batting order). All the players who played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, I played them on my belief. I even dropped Samad Fallah for the last game. Had I been communal, both Samad Fallah and Mohammad Nazim would have played all the games.
It's a very petty thing to say or even think. I wanted to give opportunities to newer players. Had I been communal, why would have I brought Jay Bista as a professional? I even wanted to make him the captain. It was the selectors who felt that Iqbal Abdullah was a better candidate for captaincy since he was senior and had played IPL. I agreed with their suggestion.”
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Jaffer also explained why a Maulavi had entered the bubble: “The Maulavi, Maulana, who came on Friday, I had not called them and the Maulana were called by Iqbal Abdulla. He probably knew someone in Dehradun and on Friday, there is prayer in a gathering, Jumma Namaz. This (communal bias) is a serious allegation. And if there was indeed a communal bias, I wouldn't have resigned, they would have sacked me.”
Following the drama, a number of Indian cricketers like Anil Kumble and Irfan Pathan have come out in support of Jaffer after he was forced to do an online conference to explain he wasn’t communally biased.
Well, now former Indian cricketer Dodda Ganesh and Bengal cricketer Manoj Tiwary have extended support to Jaffer on Twitter.
The 47-year-old wrote on Twitter: “Dear Wasim Jaffer, you’ve been a great ambassador of the game and represented India with pride. Cannot believe that this could happen to someone like you. You’re a gem of a cricketer and human, brother. Cricket world knows you and your integrity.”
While Tiwary urged Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Mr.Trivendra Singh Rawat to intervene and take necessary action immediately as the “national hero” was branded as communal.
He tweeted: “I would request the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand (BJP) Mr.Trivendra Singh Rawat 2 intervene immediately nd take note of the issue in which our National hero Wasim bhai was branded as communal in the Cricket Association nd take necessary action.Time 2 Set an example #WasimJaffer”
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
