THE QUEER CASE OF GOVINDRAJ.

[Courtesy: Solomon Kumar in The Times of India dated 06th October, 2017 (Friday)].
Even after playing first-class cricket for over a decade, former Hyderabad pacer Devraj Govindraj is struggling for recognition. The 70-year-old Govindraj has been knocking at the doors of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the last years but the cricket mandarins have no time for a veteran. Govindraj, who was a member of the victorious Indian team which toured England and the West Indies in 1970-71 season, is seeking to know the number of first-class games he has played. He has written to the BCCI several times and also personally contacted the erstwhile top brass but till date there has been no answer to his query. A couple of years ago, the BCCI had announced a one-time payment of Rs. 25 lakh to all those cricketers who had played 75 or more first-class games. Though Govindraj is eligible, the BCCI, for reasons best known to the administrators, is yet to get his dues. He does get a pension of Rs. 22,500/- given to those who have played less than 75 first class matches from the BCCI but the one-time payment has proved elusive. 
"For the last couple of years, I have been seeking an answer from the BCCI. I wnat to know why I have not been included in this scheme. But the administrators have their own problems and don't have time for an old cricketer", Govindraj told TOI on Thursday. Govindraj has been trying to get an appointment with BCCI's CEO Rahul Johri and COA Chairman Vinod Rai but his efforts have been in vain. "I have been calling the BCCI office for an appointment with Johri but it hasn't happened still. I had also written a letter to Rai (in June 2017) asking him for an appointment. I had sent the letter by Speed Post to the BCCI office but there has been no response from him too", Govindraj said. Govindraj says according to statistician Mohandas Menon, he had played over 75 matches. Cricinfo.com says that Govindraj has palyed in 93 first-class games with 190 wickets to his credit and 3 List A matches.
"Someone told me that the BCCI is not considering the matches that I played during the tours of the West Indies and England as first-class games. If it is true, why aren't they officially stating it? I am just asking for a reply. I am not begging them for any money", Govindraj said. He also added that he had spoken to Sunil Gavaskar on this issue. Sunil said, "If those aren't first-class matches. then what is a first-class match?" Govindraj said and added: "If the BCCI says that those matches are not first-class games, then I will take up the issue with the ICC. But I need some clarity from the BCCI. That's all I am asking from them".
--Challapalli Srinivas Chakravarthy--
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