September 4, 2003	Thursday	Rajab 6, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 3: Officials of as many as 43 clubs have reposed full confidence in the working of the Rawalpindi Cricket Association (RCA) headed by Masood Anwar.

Secretary of RCA, Javed Sadiq said on Wednesday that allegations levelled against their association were baseless and meant to harm cricket in the region. “The RCA is sincerely working for the promotion of the game and this is evident from the fact that Rawalpindi won the Inter-District Under-19 Championship recently.”

Representatives of 37 clubs who met at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium had termed all activities of RCA as illegal and called for holding fair elections. They claimed that despite their repeated requests to the RCA for convening of a general body meeting, no action was taken.

They alleged further that RCA played spoil-sport by announcing the Papa Hameed Memorial Tournament only after CMT&SD first announced they were to stage the event.

But Javed said that a few people who had gathered for a dinner hosted by a member of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), could not be termed as a general body meeting of RCA. “It was a meeting of people with vested interests.”

Masood had earlier denied having received any request for holding of a general body meeting. He also clarified that the Papa Hameed tournament being organised by CMT&SD was for departments while the RCA was staging the competition for clubs.

RCA said that more than 100 organisers attended the draws for the Papa Hameed tournament. “All 49 clubs of RCA will take part in the tournament which will now start from Sept 12.”