Kumble ‘elected’ KSCA president in tough fight

BANGALORE - Former Indian Test skipper Anil Kumble was early Monday declared “elected” president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) in a tough fight.

Association sources told IANS well-past midnight that out of 1,080 votes polled, ace leggie Kumble secured 559 as against 516 by incumbent president, Srikanthadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, scion of the erstwhile Mysore royal family.

However, the official announcement of the outcome has been delayed and held up due to a tie in a city-based club.

“Kumble defeated Wadiyar by 43 votes in a close contest and his entire team, including speedster Javagal Srinath as secretary has won in 23 of 24 zones across the state,” the sources said.

Srinath defeated former international umpire A.V. Jayaprakash by 245 votes by polling 644 against 399 by the latter.

It is only in Mangalore zone, Wadiyar team succeeded while Kumble team swept the polls in 22 zones and both teams tied up in one club.

“As counting for other posts in the management committee is still progressing, we are not in position to officially declare the results. Recounting has been ordered in the club where there has been a tie between pro-Kumble and pro-Wadiyar,” an official said but declined to be named.

A total of 1,489 voters, including 1,260 life members and 229 zonal clubs from across the state were eligible to vote in the election held Sunday for the next three-year tenure.

Similarly, former medium pacer Venkatesh Prasad, former all-rounder Roger Binney and industrialist Sadanand Mayya were elected for the three posts of vice-president.

Kumble teams candidate for treasurer post is businessman Tallam Venkatesh.

“We will officially declare the results by morning,” the official added.

Former Indian Test batsman Brijesh Patel opted out of the race after a 12-year stint as the associations secretary.