Ranji cricketers hit by demonetisation

Kolkata: The common man has been hit hard by the Indian government’s decision to demonitise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. There has even been a report about the death of an elderly man, while waiting in a queue outside a bank in Maharashtra to get his defunct currency notes exchanged.

The world of sports has also been adversely affected by the government’s effort to root black money out of the market.

The government’s decision to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes came last week, just a day after India’s first Test against England started, on Wednesday.

While the Indian national team has been well shielded from the dearth of cash in the market, the state of domestic cricket has not been so good.

The Goa and Vidharba teams, both of which are currently playing Ranji matches in Mumbai and Kolkata, respectively, are facing a big cash crisis, according to reports.

The Goan side are specifically facing problems with regards to pursuing their day-to-day affairs while playing their match against Kerala. The Mumbai hotel in which they are staying, only provide complimentary breakfast. The players have to fend for themselves, for all of the other meals.

While they have been provided with a certain amount of allowance, the cricketers do not have sufficient cash to make their transactions.

“Even if we order, we need change for Rs 500 or Rs 1,000. Somehow we are managing it. Few players have gone out and paid by cards. But it’s tough to go out each day just to pick up food,” Goa coach Prakash Mayekar was quoted as saying by ‘The Indian Express’.

“We really don’t have change as the daily allowance we get is Rs 1,000. Last night I requested my manager and he arranged for the change. But we can’t just keep asking our manager to do that every day,” he further said.

Vidharba, who are battling it out against Maharashtra at the Eden Gardens, have run out of cash, and are looking for help from the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).

“We had been carrying our allowance for the first four matches. Now it’s gone,” said Vidharba team manager Kishore Wakode. “The problem is that even the CAB is complaining about not having enough currency notes to accommodate our request, which is understandable. So we will have to try and arrange for something.”