Wasim Jaffer was the head coach of Uttarakhand, having been roped in this season. He has won numerous Ranji Trophy titles with Mumbai, even as a captain, besides being the most capped player in the tournament's history. Uttarakhand is yet to win the title to date.
Former Indian opener and domestic legend, Wasim Jaffer stepped down as the Uttarakhand cricket team's head coach on Tuesday, citing "interference in team selection" as the prime reason for the same. Jaffer was roped in for the role last year, while his first and only assignment so far has been the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where the side finished fourth in Group C.
Meanwhile, after he stepped down from the role, it has been reportedly alleged by Cricket Association of Uttarakhand that he was responsible for planning communal and religious divisions within the team. "We fully supported Jafar. I did not put any pressure on the players. He brought Iqbal Abdullah, Samad Salla, Jai Bista as guest players. He forcibly replaced Iqbal as captain in place of Kunal Chandela. He is the highest run-scorer in India's domestic cricket, so we initially considered all his decisions. But, the team lost four out of five matches of the Mushtaq Ali Trophy," said Rizwan Shamshad, Uttarakhand's chief selector, reports Jagran.
Nonetheless, Jaffer has swiftly denied such allegations, terming them "baseless", as he lashed out at Mahim Verma (CAU secretary) and Navneet Mishra (team manager). "These are very serious allegations and therefore, I must also present my side. I have already mentioned the reasons behind my resignation in my e-mail, and I stand by them. But giving it a communal angle, and that I have to even give clarification on such things, is very, very sad. After playing for so long, after representing the country, I have to come and defend myself for such petty things," Jaffer was quoted as saying in a virtual press conference, reports ESPNCricinfo.
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Furthermore, Jaffer was also accused of altering the team's slogan, from "Jai Hanumaan" to "Go Uttarakhand". Nevertheless, explaining the same, Jaffer asserted that the group was a combination and representation of various cultures and not just a particular community. "When we were playing practice matches, the players used to say 'Mata Raani ki jai' or 'sachhe darbar ki jai'. When we reached Baroda [to play the group phase of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy], I told them that we were not playing for a particular community, we were representing Uttarakhand. So, our slogan should also be something around Uttarakhand, like 'Go Uttarakhand', or 'Let's do it for Uttarakhand', or 'Come on, Uttarakhand'," he clarified.
He also sent out a tweet on the same, in response to a report by Cricbuzz. Meanwhile, former Indian skipper and coach, Anil Kumble has come out in support of Jaffer. Also, former Indians like Dodda Ganesh, Manoj Tiwary, Irfan Pathan and even Sachin Tendulkar have backed Jaffer.
With you Wasim. Did the right thing. Unfortunately it’s the players who’ll miss your mentor ship.
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074)Dear , you’ve been a great ambassador of the game and represented India with pride. Cannot believe that this could happen to someone like you. You’re a gem of a cricketer and human, brother. Cricket world knows you and your integrity. https://t.co/wZFPPmOVa3
— ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ | Dodda Ganesh (@doddaganesha)I would request the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand (BJP) Mr.Trivendra Singh Rawat 2 intervene immediately nd take note of the issue in which our National hero Wasim bhai was branded as communal in the Cricket Association nd take necessary action.Time 2 Set an example pic.twitter.com/ZPcusxuo7v
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj)Unfortunate that you have to explain this.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)In the meantime, Mishra has announced that Manish Kumar Jha would be the side's replacement manager. However, he also alleged that the manner in which Jaffer resigned was not appropriate. "We have never said that he's a communal person," he explained to Times of India.