Vishwanath throws hat into KSCA ring

Bangalore, Mar 11 (UNI) Legendary batsman Gundappa R Vishwanath has thrown his hat into the ring for the election to the Karnataka State Cricket Association President's post, preparing to wage a war against the scion of the erstwhile Mysore royal family Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, who has already announced his candidature.

The 'Little Master' made his intention public at a felicitation organised by the KSCA to honour five cricketing legends of the State at a glittering function held at M Chinnaswamy Stadium here last night.

Besides Vishwanath, E A S Prasanna, B S Chandrasekhar, S M H Kirmani and Roger Binny were felicitated by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sharad Pawar in recognition of their contribution to the game.

Replying to a question by Ravi Shastri, who anchored the programme, Vishwanath said ''I want a promotion. Since the present President Ram Prasad has been injured and confined to wheel chair, I want to contest for the post in the next election. Why should not I after having represented the State and the country,'' he asked.

Mr Wadiyar had expressed his intention to contest the post following allegations against the present KSCA Honorary Secretary Brijesh Patil of occupying the chair for more than two decades and misusing office.

UNI