The Cricket Association of Pondicherry (CAP) is facing a fresh controversy after alleged assault on its Under-19 head coach S Venkataraman, by three local cricketers at the association's training facility on Monday. The incident took place because the players were upset by their exclusion from the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). They attacked Venkataraman and a report by The Indian Express mentioned that the coach, the formed CAP Secretary sustained a head injury which required 20 stitches and a shoulder fracture.
The attack took place in the morning around 11 AM in the indoor nets complex of CAP following which an FIR was filed at the Sedarapet police station. When the complaint was lodged, three names came in focus - Karthikeyan Jayasundaram, a senior player, A Aravinddaraj and S Santhosh Kumaran - who are first class players. These three cricketers had reportedly assaulted the coach and leaving him with multiple injured. Additionally, Venkataraman accused G Chandran, secretary of the Bharathidasan Pondicherry Cricketers’ Forum, of inciting the attack.
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Sub-Inspector S Rajesh confirmed the severity of the assault. “Venkataraman received 20 stitches on his forehead, but he is stable. The said players are absconding, and we are trying to track them. Further details will be revealed in due course,” he said.
“While Aravinddaraj held me, Karthikeyan took the bat that Santhosh Kumaran had and attacked me with the intention of killing me. They hit me, saying Chandran had told them that they would get a chance only if they killed me,” Venkataraman stated according to the complaint
The Bharathidasan Pondicherry Cricketers’ Forum rejected allegations of instigation and its president, Senthil Kumaran, said: “Venkataraman has a documented history of several cases against him. He has often been known to behave rudely with local cricketers, using obscene language. His grudge against Chandran is also well-known, considering that we have repeatedly raised several issues within the CAP to the BCCI over the last seven years.”
The assault took place just a day after Indian Express carried out an investigation which revealed troubled practices going on within CAP - this included claims of multiple manipulation to restrict opportunity for players born in Pondicherry. The BCCI has also stepped in and secretary Devajit Saikia acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and mentioned that the board will be investigating in the matter.