The Cricket Affiliation of Pondicherry (CAP) is a “clear” organisation the place “gamers choose themselves by means of efficiency”, based on P Damodaren, MD of Siechem Applied sciences Ltd who was president of Cricket Affiliation of Pondicherry (CAP) until August. Damodaren was responding to a questionnaire from The Indian Categorical detailing the findings of its investigation, which discovered coaches at personal academies providing paperwork for a “payment” to bypass the BCCI’s residency norms and qualify as native cricketers — and overlapping pursuits of Siechem and CAP. Edited excerpts:
Q) This Ranji Trophy season, there have been no Puducherry-born gamers within the taking part in XI for 5 consecutive matches. Since 2021, solely 5 gamers hailing from Puducherry have featured in 29 matches. Why isn’t the CAP selling native cricketers?
A) Solely those that are born, finding out, employed, or residing in Pondicherry with legitimate proof as required by BCCI are chosen to signify CAP. Even right now, there aren’t any main hospitals in Yanam (adjoining to AP), Mahe (adjoining to Kerala), Karaikal & Pondicherry (adjoining to TN). Mother and father naturally go to neighbouring cities in different states for childbirth. Due to this fact, those that play for CAP are usually not “foreigners.” They’re native gamers with 100% legitimate paperwork, which you’re welcome to verify and audit.
Q) Why hasn’t the CAP not launched the 2022-25 and 2025-28 election outcomes and voters’ lists?
A) Election outcomes and annual experiences are printed on www.cap-cricket.com. We comply with the identical procedures because the BCCI. The elections had been carried out by former Chief Election Commissioner of India, T S Krishnamurthy, after following due course of (The Indian Categorical accessed the web site and located that the CAP Apex Physique election outcomes weren’t out there. The final out there knowledge on the voters’ checklist dates again to August 27, 2019— a listing containing the names and particulars of 32 voting members of the CAP for the 2019-22 time period).
Q) As per the CAP voters’ checklist for 2019-22 — the final out there on report — eight of the 13 Life Members and 13 of 16 Membership Members are employed by Siechem Applied sciences Ltd. Isn’t this a transparent case of battle of curiosity?
A) Not one of the voting membership members belong to Siechem. In neighbouring state associations, dozens of golf equipment are managed by these in energy — however not in CAP (A communication on Might 26, 2025, from Damodaren to the BCCI, which was reviewed by The Indian Categorical, lists 5 Life Members as Siechem staff).
Q) Native coaches in personal academies have been performing as middlemen, providing packages, together with faculty admission and tackle data, for charges of upto Rs 1.2 lakh to outstation cricketers to bypass the BCCI’s one-year residency norms, get listed as “native” and qualify for CAP staff choice. Are you conscious of this follow?
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A) Faculties in Pondicherry are usually not exhibiting curiosity in fielding sturdy junior groups. To fast-track cricket growth, CAP determined to advertise the sport by means of cricket academies throughout Pondicherry. We now have two divisions — Elite & Plate. Choices for the state are executed strictly by selectors, not academy coaches. CAP is clear, and no corrupt practices are adopted. In truth, gamers choose themselves by means of efficiency.
Q) There aren’t any data out there for the 16 voting golf equipment below CAP. There aren’t any data, together with scorecards, to point out that these golf equipment have appeared in division-league cricket for CAP alternatives.
A) Fifteen golf equipment have been members since 2003, when CAP was established, and have performed quite a few league tournaments. From Jan-Feb 2026, league tournaments will restart topic to gamers’ availability… not a single new voting member has been added publish BCCI approval. (The Indian Categorical discovered that the September 2019 voters’ checklist signed and accepted by former CEC Krishnamurthy reveals 16 membership members with voting rights within the CAP. Nonetheless, there aren’t any taking part in data for any of those groups out there on the CAP web site or annual experiences).
Q) A number of gamers have been discovered to share the identical native Aadhaar tackle with out the house-owners’ data. Is the CAP conscious of such a follow, has it taken any motion?
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A) All gamers have real rental deeds, rents paid by means of GPay, and consent letters from householders. Allegations in any other case are baseless. This was verified by BCCI ACU (Anti-Corruption Unit) primarily based on faux complaints.
Q) Data present that the Siechem floor land that has been leased to the CAP might be transferred to your youngsters on the finish of the lease time period in 2039. What occurs to the infrastructure and developments facilitated by BCCI funds inside the CAP advanced? Has the CAP developed any grounds past the Siechem advanced?
A) No land is offered in Pondicherry to construct such giant infrastructure — 45 acres with 8 grounds, residential rooms, gymnasium, indoor & out of doors amenities, and many others. To advertise cricket, my household helped CAP. When you calculate market worth of the land, whole quantity spent, and even 1% curiosity, it involves roughly Rs 750 crore donated, contemplating the 25-year lease at Rs 1 per acre. Therefore, (the) allegations are baseless.
Q) What was the character of the “anti-CAP actions” that had the affiliation banning 5 native gamers, together with a former Ranji Trophy captain, earlier this yr?
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A) As per CAP’s structure, these people are banned for anti-CAP actions, supported by proof.
Q) What motivated you to take up cricket administration in Pondicherry?
Pondicherry was earlier annexed to TNCA (Tamil Nadu Cricket Affiliation). Like Goa, I wished Pondicherry to play Ranji Trophy and host worldwide matches. We’re on the correct path.
Q) How has native Pondicherry cricket benefited from the institution of CAP below BCCI?
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A) Pondicherry’s native skills have began performing. Kavisha (Elayaperumal) scored back-to-back a whole bunch in T20 (Girls’s U23 T20 Trophy – Plate division). Yuvashri (Karthikeyan) represented South Zone (within the Senior Girls’s Inter Zonal T20 Trophy). Akash Pugazhendhi scored 50 in 14 balls within the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in opposition to Haryana (final week). There are a lot of extra such achievements.
Q) How a lot cash does Siechem give the CAP yearly in sponsorship?
A) CSR funds supplied by Siechem to CAP are totally mirrored within the annual experiences uploaded on the CAP web site.