New Delhi: Indian women’s cricket team star Jemimah Rodrigues’ three-year honorary membership has been revoked by the prestigious Khar Gymkhana in Mumbai over her father’s unauthorised ‘religious activities’ in the club premises. Rodrigues’ father Ivan Rodrigues has been accused of conducting religious events where the ‘vulnerable’ were being converted.
Rodrigues was invited to become a member of the Khar Gymkhana and use its facilities last year. As per a report in Indian Express, her membership was cancelled after several members of the gymkhana objected to the cricketer’s father using the premises to conduct ‘religious activities’. The members alleged that the events were being organised to ‘convert’ people.
The decision to revoke Rodrigues’ membership was taken in the Khar Gymkhana’s annual general meeting on Sunday. Shiv Malhotra, a member of the managing committee of the Khar Gymkhana claimed Ivan was associated with an organisation called Brother Manuel Ministries and had the president hall of the gymkhana booked for nearly a year and a half where unauthorised religious activities were being conducted.
“We came to know that Jemimah Rodrigues’s father was attached to an organisation called Brother Manuel Ministries. They booked the presidential hall for almost a year and a half and held 35 events. We all know what was happening there,” Malhotra was quoted as saying by Indian Express.
“We hear about conversions all over the country, but it’s happening right under our nose. There was dancing, expensive music equipment, big screens. As per Khar Gymkhana’s bye-laws Rule 4A of the constitution, Khar Gymkhana does not permit any religious activity,” he added.
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Rodrigues was last seen in action for India in the recently concluded ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. Harmanpreet Kaur-led India endured a woeful run as they were eliminated from the group stage after suffering defeats against New Zealand and Australia. Rodrigues had an average tournament as she finished with 68 runs from 4 matches, failing to make an impact for India.
Jemimah Rodrigues in race for India captaincy?
Former India captain Mithali Raj recently backed Jemimah Rodrigues as a potential candidate to succeed current Indian women’s team skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. Mithali said Rodrigues can be a strong contender if the selectors want to replace Harmanpreet following India’s disastrous campaign in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Rodrigues has played 3 Tests, 30 ODIs and 140 T20Is in her career so far and has amassed 235, 710 and 2142 runs in the three formats, respectively.
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