Dev told newsmen here on Saturday that Jadeja had ``sent a letter to HCA officials that he was not ready to play for Haryana unless the system and the situation improved.'' Dev added Jadeja had told him that even last year there were attempts to throw him (Jadeja) out of the state team.

``He even told me that he had been receiving threats. How can any player continue to play under such circumstances?'' he said.

``I am shocked that a player of Jadeja's calibre has been forced to take this step because of the pathetic manner in which the game is run by the present state association,'' the former India skipper, who has recently taken over as secretary of Gurgaon district unit,said.

Turning his attention to secretary Ranbir Singh, Kapil said, ``According to information I have received, the HCA should presently have around Rs 10-12 crores in its kitty. But nothing has so far been done for the cricketers. HCA hasn't even built a bathroom while PCA (Punjab Cricket Assopciation) has built a Taj Mahal (cricket stadium) in Mohali.''

HCA had enrolled 62 life members, none of them having ever represented the state in any form of cricket. ``One owns a dry-cleaning shop, some are advocates and others relatives of the HCA secretary. If this is not jagirdari, what is it,'' he questioned. ``I have also played a few Tests and served the state for almost two decades. If cricketers are not taken as members, what does the association stand for,'' he added.

He appealed to the BCCI to see that constitution of every state unit is similar to that of the parent body and not formed to please one person or his close friends.

Dev also refuted the charge of the BCCI president that `big cricketers'do not have time for the game. ``We have all the time for the game. In fact, I am willing to give every drop of my blood for the game which has given me so much name and fame. But, sorry to say, the system is such that we are not able to do anything,'' he said.

Dev emphasised that the need of the hour was a change in the HCA system for the better. ``We want better facilities for players. We have made a small beginning at Gurgaon. Prakash Padukone changed things in badminton at the national level. Why can't a similar thing happen in cricket?''