Former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad Set to Contest Karnataka State Cricket Association Elections

Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Elections

The elections are being held at a time when the current KSCA administration, led by Raghuram Bhat, is facing scrutiny following the tragic incident that took place on June 4, when RCB celebrated their title-winning success with fans. But unfortunately, eleven fans were killed in a stampede near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during celebrations of Royal Challengers Bangalore's IPL victory celebration. Following the incident, KSCA secretary Shankar A and treasurer ES Jayaram had to resign from their posts. Legal proceedings are underway after the Cabinet-appointed Justice D'Cunha Commission submitted its report to the government and the state High Court. After that, the state Cabinet ‌approved criminal proceedings against association officials, RCB representatives, and event management firms.

The posts of KSCA secretary and treasurer are currently vacant. If the elections go as planned, Mruthyunjay could return to his previous role. The term of the current KSCA president, led by Raghuram Bhat, will end on September 30, paving the way for new leadership in the association. So that Prasad is planning to contest this election along with him, experienced administrator Vinay Mrityunjay will also be included. The complete panel of candidates will be announced in the coming days.

Venkatesh Prasad’s Coaching Career

Following the Indian team's disappointing performance in the 2007 World Cup, Prasad was appointed India's bowling coach for the tour of Bangladesh in May 2007. Prasad received a lot of praise from various members of the Indian team. Moreover, he worked well with India's new bowling pair, Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma. In this role, he accomplished feats he had never done in his playing career, like winning Test series in England and New Zealand. However, two disappointing performances by the bowlers in major ICC events in 2009 cost him his job. In October 2009, Venkatesh Prasad was sacked by the BCCI.

He also served as the bowling coach of the IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings. For the 2011 season, he joined Royal Challengers Bangalore as their bowling coach and consultant. Apart from this, he also worked as the bowling coach for Kings XI Punjab in 2018.

Venkatesh Prasad’s Cricket Career

In Venkatesh Prasad's cricket career, he took 96 wickets while playing 33 Test matches for India. Prasad played 161 ODI matches, in which he took 196 wickets. In 123 first-class matches, he sent 361 batsmen to the pavilion. With his right-arm fast bowling, he gave many important victories to India. However, Venkatesh was remembered for a very famous incident in the 1996 World Cup against Pakistan. India and Pakistan face off in the second quarter-final of the World Cup. In Pakistan's innings, Aamir Sohail hit a four to Venkatesh Prasad and made an insulting gesture towards Prasad with his bat. On the next ball, Prasad clean bowled him and showed him the way to the pavilion. After that, his records aside and his signalling Aamir Sohail to the pavilion aside, the excitement of cricket rivalry among people takes it to a different level. This incident became a memorable moment in the history of India-Pakistan matches, and Indian fans still like it today as well. This incident is seen every other day on social media in the form of short clips.

It is noteworthy that former Indian captain and former President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Sourav Ganguly, is also ready to return to cricket administration. There is every possibility that he will file his nomination for the post of president in the upcoming elections of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).