Banks team expelled for fielding 'trainee'

The controversial decision to expel the women's team of the Bank Sports Control Board from the ongoing 31st All India Inter-Institutional table tennis championship has put a question mark on the organisational efficiency of the Table Tennis Federation of India.

The decision to oust the BSCB women's team was taken late Saturday night following a complaint lodged by the Defence Accounts Sports Control Board that one of the BSCB players Sherry Crawford is not an employee of the bank but a trainee who received stipend.

The tournament committee and some top TTFI officials, who were put in an awkward position since Sherry's entry had already been accepted, were closetted for nearly three hours before taking the decision.

The TTFI seems to have no rule on playing trainees by the institutional sides and there have been instances in the past when trainees have represented their institutions in such meets.

The TTFI vice-president, Probir Mitra said the committee took action against the team as the TTFI secretary general, M C Chauhan had clearly mentioned in his inaugural speech that trainees will not be allowed to participate.

The decision has not gone down well with the Bank Sports Control Board, who pointed out that Sushmita Roy had played for them last year though she was also a trainee.

Mitra, however, explained that Sushmita was allowed to play last year since there was no protest from the other participating teams. He said the TTFI will have no problem of allowing Sherry to play if the DASCB withdraws the protest.

Sherry's father, Russi Crawford, a former TTFI vice-president, came out strongly against the decision, claiming that the TTFI is "victimising a player".

Crawford, who is also a leading official of the BSCB, said the tournament committee has no idea about the constitution and is conducting the tournament according to their whims and fancies.

"We are a national institution and it is a disgrace for us to be treated in this way. When trainees have played in the past, what prevents them from playing this year also," he asked.

He said BSCB officials have not received any written communication from the organising committee or the TTFI that the women's team has been debarred to partipate.

"We have only come to know through press reporters that the team has been scratched. We have not yet received any such letter yet. We are still waiting for some communication," he added.