Vaibhav Gehlot, the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) chief, tendered his resignation on Monday, citing a lack of confidence motion against him, despite asserting that no office-bearer or official had engaged him in any discussions regarding this matter.
This development transpired after the Rajasthan Sports Council (RSC) locking down the RCA premises on February 23. Earlier, on February 19, the RSC issued a notice to the RCA, notifying them that their agreement concerning the Rajasthan Cricket Academy and the SMS Stadium had expired on February 21, and requested the return of their control. Consequently, the RCA was no longer permitted to utilize the cricket ground or other facilities housed within the premises.
Gehlot, whose father Ashok Gehlot served as the Rajasthan chief minister until December, alleged that the action taken against the RCA was motivated by a sense of retribution following the change in government. He maintained that no RCA office-bearer had voiced any disagreement on any issue; otherwise, he would have resigned earlier. "For me, this position holds no significance; however, the welfare of cricket in Rajasthan and the future prospects of players are paramount. I am committed to safeguarding these interests and will continue to be available in the future," asserted Gehlot.
He highlighted his endeavors to expand cricket beyond Jaipur, citing the renovation of the stadium in Jodhpur and the initiation of work for a world-class stadium in Udaipur.
Gehlot explained that owing to the absence of a dedicated stadium, the RCA had entered into an agreement with the state government to utilize the SMS Stadium, where international matches were hosted. Furthermore, he mentioned the collaborative efforts with the Vedanta Group to commence the construction of a cricket stadium on the Jaipur-Delhi highway.
Expressing dismay over the swift action taken by the RSC in locking down the RCA premises, Gehlot emphasized the potential jeopardy to IPL matches and cricket activities in the state. He attributed this hostile environment to the neglect suffered by cricket during the Bharatiya Janata Party's tenure in Rajasthan from 2013 to 2018. Gehlot, who assumed the role of RCA president in 2019, underscored his commitment to revitalizing cricket and engaging youngsters in the sport.
However, RSC secretary Sohan Ram Choudhary countered Gehlot's assertions, alleging that the RCA had accumulated unpaid dues amounting to ₹3 crore over several years, despite numerous notices being dispatched without any response.
