The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) has taken the significant step of suspending the membership of its former joint secretary, Parag Patel. The suspension, enacted on Tuesday, stems from allegations of creating a disturbance during the association's Annual General Meeting (AGM) last November and posting contentious content on social media platforms.
The Allegations and Suspension
According to the BCA management, Patel was responsible for causing a ruckus at the AGM held in November of the previous year. Furthermore, the association accused him of sharing material on his social media accounts that was deemed detrimental to the BCA's reputation. This dual transgression led to the decisive action of suspending his membership.
Parag Patel, however, has strongly contested the suspension, labeling it as unconstitutional. He asserts that his actions were focused on bringing to light alleged mismanagement within the cricket body. "After the AGM, I was issued a show-cause notice asking me to explain my actions. The BCA management accused me of protesting during the AGM and posting provocative videos on social media," Patel stated in his defense.
Patel's Counter-Arguments and Past Issues
Patel raised procedural objections against the suspension process. He highlighted that the show-cause notice was signed by BCA secretary Ajit Lele, whose official term had already concluded, thereby questioning his authority to issue such a notice. Patel also mentioned that he had requested specifics about the social media posts the BCA found objectionable but received no clarification. "Instead, my membership was suspended," he added.
This is not the first time Patel has faced disciplinary action from the BCA. He was previously removed from the BCA apex council in 2022 for corresponding with the Ombudsman without prior council approval and for allegedly making personal allegations against the treasurer. Patel has consistently denied those past charges as well.
The BCA Management's Stance
When contacted, BCA secretary Ajit Lele provided the association's perspective. He alleged that Patel disrupted the AGM by shouting slogans against the BCA president. Lele also addressed the social media posts, stating that Patel made false claims regarding the Kotambi international cricket stadium.
"Patel posted false claims on social media regarding the Kotambi international cricket stadium, alleging that the BCA lacked proper permissions and infrastructure to host the ODI match," Lele explained. He noted that these posts emerged following the tragic Goa restaurant fire, with Patel suggesting a similar incident could occur at the stadium. "Such posts can spread fear. We have all necessary permissions, and Patel was invited to verify them in the office," Lele asserted.
Patel countered this claim, maintaining that the BCA refused to share the details of the permissions with him when he sought verification.
Implications and Next Steps
The immediate consequence of the suspension is that Parag Patel will be ineligible to participate in the upcoming BCA elections scheduled for next month. This sidelines him from a key democratic process within the association.
Ajit Lele indicated that an inquiry into the matter will be conducted, following which a final decision on Patel's membership will be made. This suggests the suspension could be either revoked or made permanent based on the findings of the investigation.
The situation underscores ongoing tensions within the administrative framework of the Baroda Cricket Association, highlighting conflicts between individual members seeking accountability and the established management.
