The Pondicherry Cricket Association (CAP) is currently embroiled in controversy. Amid reports of corruption and irregularities in playing opportunities, the Under-19 team’s head coach, S. Venkataraman, was attacked on Monday. According to reports, three local players—senior Karthikeyan Jayasundaram, first-class player A. Arvindraj, and S. Santosh Kumaran—were upset over team selection and attacked the coach in anger.
Venkataraman was attacked at the CAP training facility around 11 a.m. The coach said he was cornered near the nets and attacked on his head and shoulder. He suffered a severe head injury that required 20 stitches and a fractured shoulder. Police immediately filed an FIR and launched a search for the accused players. According to Sub-Inspector S. Rajesh, the coach is in stable condition and the absconding players are being tracked down.
Venkataraman alleged that the players grabbed him and assaulted him, and that G. Chandran, secretary of the Bharathidasan Pondicherry Cricketers Forum, instigated the assault. He claims that the players told him that they would only receive a chance in the team if they injured the coach.
The Bharathidasan Pondicherry Cricketers Forum rejected the coach’s allegations, saying Venkataraman often behaved inappropriately with players. Forum president Senthil Kumaran said the issues have been raised with the BCCI several times over the years at the CAP.
The attack came a day after an Indian Express report highlighted complaints of player selection irregularities in the CAP and the portrayal of outside players as local. Only five local players have participated in the Ranji Trophy since 2021.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia stated that the board would investigate the matter seriously. CAP CEO Raju Metha, however, claimed that all rules were followed and that there is a zero-tolerance policy for corruption.