Spin legend Anil Kumble on Thursday extended support to his former India teammate Wasim Jaffer after the Cricket Association of Uttarakhand (CAU) alleged that he had tried to force religion-based selections as the state team’s coach.
Former India players Irfan Pathan and Manoj Tiwary also stood in solidarity with Jaffer and supported the leading run-getter of the Ranji Trophy.
Jaffer, who quit as Uttarakhand coach owing to a dispute with the state association, on Wednesday rejected allegations by the cricket association’s officials that he favoured Muslim players in the team. He got support from Kumble, a former India captain and coach who currently heads the ICC”s cricket committee.
“With you Wasim.Did the right thing. Unfortunately it’s the players who’ll miss your mentor ship,” Kumble wrote on his twitter handle. The 42-year-old Jaffer, who played 31 Tests for India and is a celebrated name in domestic cricket, said the charge levelled by CAU”s secretary Mahim Verma in a media report, had caused him immense pain. Jaffer resigned on Tuesday citing “interference and bias of selectors and the association’s secretary for non-deserving players” as the reason.