The conspiracy against BCCI Joint Secretary Rohan Desai has come to light. First, a petition was filed in the High Court to prevent him from filing his nomination, and once the purpose was served, the petition was immediately withdrawn. The recent elections of the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) have become a hot topic in the sporting world. While serving as Joint Secretary of the BCCI, Rohan Gons Desai worked with transparency, integrity, and in the interest of players, bringing pride to Goa. Ironically, this turned out to be his biggest “crime.”
Desai tried to free Goa cricket from the grip of families and corruption. He took several measures to ensure that the crores of rupees received from the BCCI were properly utilised for the players. This is precisely why some of Goa’s old influential office-bearers united against him. A conspiracy was crafted in the elections so that, instead of Rohan, the winners would be those tainted with allegations of smuggling and fund scams.
The new GCA President, Mahesh Desai, had once been arrested in a smuggling case, while his brother Chetan Desai, Vinod Phadke, and Akbar Mulla have all served jail terms in money-laundering cases. In fact, this is not the first time Goa cricket has been stained by scandals. Back in 2016, the Economic Offences Cell of the Goa Police arrested Chetan Desai, then GCA President; Vinod Phadke, the Secretary; and Akbar Mulla, the Treasurer, for alleged fraud of Rs 3.13 crore. They were accused of opening a fake bank account in the association’s name and siphoning off funds received from the BCCI. This shocking case exposed the rot within the GCA and highlighted how corruption and manipulation had become deeply entrenched in the state’s cricket administration.
The question arises: will such people work for the betterment of Goa cricket, or will they use the institution for their personal gains?
Taking note of Rohan’s popularity and his BJP association, opposition parties also turned against him. Leaders of the Goa Forward Party brought rival factions together to ensure Rohan’s defeat in the elections. When his name was included in the BCCI voter list, the rivals rushed to the High Court. As a result, Rohan could not even file his nomination for Joint Secretary for a second consecutive term. And once he was stopped from contesting, the petition was quietly withdrawn. This alone exposes the entire conspiracy.
This outcome affects not only one individual but also has implications for the larger cricketing community in Goa, including players, coaches, and supporters who had hoped for stronger representation and development. Many within the fraternity view the result as a setback for Goa cricket rather than just for Rohan Desai personally.
