Martin loses Ranji captainship following coach's complaint

Vadodara, Feb 6 (UNI) Differences between Jacob Martin and Vadodara coach Ashok Mankad have come to the fore with the unceremonious removal of the former as captain of the Vadodara Ranji squad for the forthcoming one-day championship in the domestic cricket.

Thirty five-year-old Martin, the most successful captain of the Vadodara Ranji team, has been replaced by all-rounder Ajit Bhoite apparently not for his performance, but for coach Ashok Mankad's recent complaint against him for being ''disobedient''. Talking to UNI today, Martin said he would have no option but to quit the Vadodara Ranji team for the Ramakant Desai Trophy one-day championship beginning in Mumbai from February 10, unless he was given an opportunity to place his views on the issue before the BCA management.

''I have no difference of opinion with coach Mankad except on the Motibaug wicket which was prepared for the just-concluded Vadodara-Mumbai Ranji Trophy semifinal match which we lost by 63 runs on the third-day of the five-day match,'' Martin said.

Before the crucial match, Martin said he had a chat with the coach on the preparation of the wicket as he wanted a fair track which could last for the full five days and should be favourable to both batsmen and bowlers. But the coach had a different view on the issue and the hosts fell flat on the cracking track on the very third day, he added.

Expressing his surprise over the manner in which he was removed from the captaincy, Martin said the office of BCA did not mail him the letter regarding the selection committee meeting scheduled for February 3.

The Vadodara team for the one-day Ranji Trophy was picked on the stipulated day, but he was informed about the team selection three days later while he was attending the BCA Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC) meeting yesterday, the aggrieved skipper said.

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