Hyderabad, Nov. 9: Vijay Mohan Raj has declined to coach the Hyderabad U-19 team after he was named by the Hyderabad Cricket Association as successor to Kanwaljit Singh, who resigned owing moral responsibility for the side losing all its games at the South Zone tournament.

“I have considered the verbal proposal to the appointment of coach of the Under 19 side, and regret that under the current circumstances I am unable to perform this duty to the best of my ability as it clashes with the professional commitments I have made in advance,” Vijay Mohan Raj wrote to HCA president Arshad Ayub.

Vijay was peeved at the blame being put on the Cricket Development Committee (comprising Arshad Ayub, Venkatapathy Raju, M.V. Sridhar, VVS Laxman and Vijay Mohan Raj) for the recent Ranji debacle. “To blame the CDC for what is happening now is not fair. They had not even taken all the names which we had put up,” Vijay told this newspaper from Kolkata.

“Whatever we (CDC) spoke at the meeting was again reviewed at the HCA executive committee meeting. Laxman and I asked for certain things, to which they never agreed. Laxman’s list was not entirely followed by the executive committee anyway. And it is not right to assume we (the CDC) picked the selectors. The EC did,” Vijay said.

“There’s no point blaming the selectors or the coaches for what is happening in Hyderabad cricket — it’s the administrators who decide on the players in the team,” Vijay said.

“Now, since things are going wrong, they want to make us scapegoats. The whole system has gone awry and we need to sit down and think about ways to set it right than play the blame game,” Vijay said.

Following is the full text of the letter Vijay Mohan Raj wrote to HCA president Arshad Ayub:

“With reference to the telephonic discussion I had with you, I have considered the verbal proposal to the appointment of Coach of the Under 19 yrs group, and regret that under the current circumstances am unable to perform this duty to the best of my ability.

As I studied the schedule for the Cooch Behar Trophy, it clashes with the professional commitments I have made in advance and therefore request you to seek an alternative arrangement in the above regard.

The appointment as Under 19 Coach came as a surprise and was communicated to me by a member of the press after which I called you and confirmed the same. My philosophy of serving the state, in any capacity and at all times would have compelled me to accept this assignment but there is no emergency at least at Under 19 level for me to alter my decision.

In addition to the above you also mentioned during the conversation the Executive Committee’s remarks on the performance of the Cricket Development Committee of which I am a member. With respect to the same, I wish to draw on record that this Committee met only once, and that to, without an agenda. The informal meeting, ended up in making the selection of the coaches, selectors and also discussed certain issues pertaining to the upliftment of the game in Hyderabad.

While, the recommendations were implemented by the Executive Committee, it was not done entirely in the manner that was discussed in that informal meeting. The recent incident of the coaches resigning, is most unfortunate, and hope that the issues mentioned by them are addressed at the earliest.

To blame the Cricket Development Committee, which is expected to reform Hyderabad Cricket in one sitting, is equivalent to making a mockery of justice.

In my case I have tried to implement, nearly single handedly a system of coaching, leading from the front, by upgrading myself to the highest possible level. However, the lack of support in this regard even after proposing several years back a modern academy, to someone who has been offering honorary service to the Association, is a testimony of a non progressive attitude that exists in the system.

This is the beginning of new era, as nothing can get worse than it is as of now. I have hope, that along with you and other international cricketers, in the administration, the decision makers will get proper direction, and there will be a turn around.

At the outset I shall continue to persist with my goal because the game is greater than the individual and I have the intrinsic motivation to do so.”