Seven Mumbai University cricketers skip match, suspended

Very often, budding cricketers find their due recognition by representing their school or college at a young age. However, in a recent turn of events, the Mumbai University saw seven young cricketers getting suspended from participating in further inter-collegiate matches. This move came as an aftermath of their absence in an important zonal match.

Mumbai had qualified for the Inter-University Cricket Tournament and any shot at performing well in the championship called for the presence of all their key players. However, seven cricketers chose to opt out of a crucial third-place match of their team, in order to participate in the Mumbai T20 League. Mumbai lost the game, leading to the subsequent dispatch of letters from the University to the respective colleges of the players, declaring their suspension.

Mumbai University takes strict action

Rizvi College’s Aakarshit Gomel, Usman Mohd. Adeeb, Sidak Singh and Sagar Jadhav, Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala College’s Chinmay Sutar and Tanush Kotian, and Bhupen Lalwani from RA Poddar College were the seven youngsters accused of having skipped their college match.

As a result, the Mumbai team was left with only 9 players and lost the all-important match. As reported by The Indian Express, the letter addressed by the Mumbai University to the respective colleges read, “I regret to bring to your kind notice that seven players of Mumbai University with the apathy and capricious behavior they did not play the matches, as per their class, which is abstruse.”

The seven supposedly left Rohtak on March 10 in order to play in the Mumbai T20 League in Mumbai, marooning their college team midway. The letter further stated, “The Mumbai University’s reputation and name in cricket are spoiled because of the attitude of these 7 players. The players got admission under Sports Quota, so ethically they should play in college and university matches.” The letter has also demanded an explanation from the three colleges regarding why the seven players preferred the T20 League over playing for their university team.