Just two days after the Bihar government dissolved the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) on grounds of irregularities and anomalies, the rival faction — Association of Bihar Cricket (ABC) — put forward its stake on Thursday to the BCCI to run the game in the state.

ABC president and former India cricketer Kirti Azad met board president Shashank Manohar and the secretary N Srinivasan in Mohali towards the evening and gave a presentation citing the reasons they should be given recognition and applied for fresh membership.

Azad had created a parallel association and sought recognition from the board after accusing the BCA of not promoting cricket in the state properly. The tussle between BCA and ABC continued till 2006 before Sharad Pawar reinstated the BCA and announced the merger of Bihar and Jharkhand Cricket Association.

“I had a very cordial meeting with the president and secretary, and I am expecting a decision from them very soon,” Azad told The Indian Express. ABC general secretary Mithilesh added that the board showed a positive response to their application. “They told us that the previous board had taken the decision on the affiliation. Manohar promised us that he will look into our presentation and take a decision very soon over the matter.”