Kanpur: Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) members passed a resolution at the AGM to expel its vice-president, Rakesh Mishra, following heated exchanges over the functioning of the association and lawsuits filed by him against its office-bearers.During the discussion at the AGM on Wednesday, Mishra questioned the selection of coaches and support staff and raised objections to the formation of the Cricket Advisory Committee. UPCA president Nidhipat Singhania then said there was no need to keep people in the association who had filed lawsuits against their own colleagues. However, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla intervened to pacify the members and urged them to resolve the issue amicably.Joint secretary Umer Hasan questioned Mishra’s conduct, pointing out that he had filed lawsuits against several association members, including the president, secretary and directors. “I have to attend high court hearings every two or three months because of these lawsuits,” Hasan said.The exchange grew sharper when Mishra, gesturing towards Hasan, said, “This is coming from people who have only recently joined the UPCA, whereas I have been associated with the association for several years.”Hasan responded that he was also a joint secretary and that his father had been associated with the UPCA for several years before him. At this point, Singhania intervened and expressed displeasure over members initiating legal proceedings against their own association colleagues.Following his remarks, the House adopted a resolution to remove Mishra through a voice vote.Shukla immediately stepped in to defuse the situation and asked Mishra whether he would withdraw the lawsuit. Facing opposition from members, Mishra agreed to withdraw the case.Although the immediate confrontation appeared to have subsided, the episode exposed differences within the association, with several members openly expressing their opposition to Mishra.UPCA officials present at the meeting described the incident as unprecedented in the association’s AGM history. While disagreements over decisions have occurred in the past, they said, such issues had generally been resolved amicably.
