Neta kids ride cricket crest to become admin honchos

Sons of four top politicians hold key posts in state, dist associations in Raj

Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh on Saturday made a dig at BJP calling it ‘ghor parivaarwaadi’. He wondered how BJP leader Amit Shah's son, Jay Shah, is BCCI's secretary without ever playing cricket. That the parivaarwaadi’ trend extends beyond the realms of mainstream politics is apparent. In Rajasthan, politicians are pitching their children into the “politics of cricket”.

Sons of four prominent leaders now hold key posts in Rajasthan Cricket Association and different district cricket associations. The latest entrant is Pawan Dilawar, the son of education minister Madan Dilawar who has been elected as the treasurer of Baran District Cricket Association.

The politics of cricket has been making headlines for the last two decades in Rajasthan because of former IPL chairman Lalit Modi, who virtually controlled the cricket in the state for around 13-14 years after the entry of senior Congress leader CP Joshi and Vaibhav Gehlot, son of former CM Ashok Gehlot into the Rajasthan Cricket Association. Now, district cricket associations are launching pads for the children of leaders of both BJP and Congress. Five prominent leaders have pitched their sons in cricket politics.

On Friday, Pawan Dilawar, son of Education Minister Madan Dilawar, was “elected” as the treasurer of the Baran District Cricket Association. Apart from Pawan, Yash Jain, son of Pramod Jain Bhaya, who was a minister in the Congress government, became the president of the Baran Cricket Association in November last year.

Dhananjay Singh Khinvsar, son of Medical and Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khinvsar, is the president of the Nagaur Cricket Association and is also heading the Rajasthan Cricket Association as acting president.

Parakram Singh Rathod, son of former minister and senior BJP leader Rajendra Rathod, is the president of the Churu Cricket Association.

Vaibhav Gehlot, son of former CM Ashok Gehlot, headed the Rajasthan Cricket Association for five years during the Congress government in Rajasthan. He had to step down recently after the change in power in Rajasthan. However, he is still the treasurer of the Rajsamand Cricket Association.

Experts believe that this trend in Rajasthan is helping politicians to get recognition for their children although it is not good for the game.

This sudden mushrooming of people who have never held a cricket bat or ball in their entire life, will only ruin the beautiful game of cricket. –Rameshwar Singh

Sports journalist