The CAB observes February 3 as the Frank Worell Day and organises a blood donation camp as a mark of respect to the Caribbean great. The day happens to be CAB’s foundation day as well. Every year, blood donors get certificates signed by a cricketer of repute. Last year, the CAB had promised to give the donors certificates signed by Anil Kumble. Some of them got it all right, but most had to be satisfied with certificates that had Kumble’s name embossed on a rubber stamp. The signature was missing.

“Some of the members even returned the certificates,” CAB joint-secretary Arun Mitra told The Indian Express. “We are making foolproof arrangements this time to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” he added. This year, on the CAB’s 80th foundation day, the donors will get the certificates signed by the former England captain Mike Brearley.

“What they did was unethical and it definitely tarnished the CAB’s image. We could have sought their explanation in this regard. But then, it won’t serve any purpose,” Mitra said.

Asked about the fiasco, Mukherjee passed the buck to the then joint-secretary Samar Paul. The latter couldn’t be contacted.