'This incident is unfortunate and intolerable..' - Saurashtra Cricket Association official issues statement after alcohol saga

The Chandigarh Union Territory Cricket Association confirmed the incident, clarifying that Chandigarh is not a dry state, making it a violation of cricket association rules rather than a criminal offence. The Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) initiated an official investigation into the discovery of undeclared alcohol bottles and beer cans in the luggage of five of its under-23 players at Chandigarh airport last week. 

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This potential misconduct raises concerns about team discipline and the future of these young athletes. The purported incident was uncovered during routine luggage screening, exposing 27 liquor bottles and two crates of beer concealed within the players' equipment bags. This flagrant breach of regulations prompted the SCA to promptly assign its ethics committee to conduct a thorough investigation and propose suitable disciplinary measures.

“This incident is unfortunate and intolerable,” declared the SCA in an official statement, emphasizing its commitment to upholding its code of conduct. Conflicting reports have led to uncertainty surrounding the incident, with varying accounts emerging. Sources suggest that the event transpired following the team's triumph in Chandigarh, as their equipment bags were dispatched separately by air while the players travelled by bus due to flight delays.

Father of one alleged player calls it a conspiracy against his son

The Chandigarh Union Territory Cricket Association, as confirmed by its secretary Devinder Sharma to Indian Express, acknowledged the incident. Sharma clarified that as Chandigarh is not a dry state, the act constituted a breach of cricket association rules rather than a criminal offence. In a dramatic turn, the father of one player alleges his son was unknowingly manipulated by a senior Ranji Trophy player to transport the alcohol. Furthermore, he asserted his son, unaware of the contents, complied with a teammate's request, raising suspicions of foul play and potential efforts to sideline specific players from the team.

“The way the incident is being projected in the media makes me suspect that it was a conspiracy to ease my son and the other four out of the team so that some other cricketers could take their place,” he added.