Ex-NCA officer and Services pacer Ajay Jha passes away

FILE PHOTO: National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, India

Ex-Services pace bowler, Ajay Jha, who last served as the chief administrative officer of the National Cricket Academy, succumbed to a heart attack while playing golf in Bangalore on Wednesday evening, ESPNCricinfo reports.

The 57-year-old was a fast bowler for the Services and participated in 52 first-class matches, taking 159 wickets at an average of 30.18, in a career spanning from 1974 to 1987.

In nine first-class matches from 1981 to 1985, Jha took 10 wickets at an average of 25.50.

The retired wing commander of the Indian Air Force was dislodged from his rank at the NCA following accusations of his involvement in a Rs. 50 crore NCA land deal that went awry.

The NCA, it is believed, had desired to gain close to 50 acres of land near Nandi Hills through the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) for the academy.

The BCCI had also paid close to Rs. 50 crore for the acquisition.

But a Karnataka High Court verdict in June this year said the deal was unlawful after a number of PILs emerged regarding this.