Delhi cricket’s steep slide: Association sits on report that flagged what’s wrong

android, delhi cricket’s steep slide: association sits on report that flagged what’s wrong

Delhi cricket’s steep slide: Association sits on report that flagged what’s wrong

The Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) has a “compromised and conflicted” selection process that bypasses the chief selector and is marked by “rampant interference” of its officials.

This is the key point flagged in a scathing indictment by DDCA’s Technical Expert Group (TEG) in the wake of Delhi’s dismal showing last season. The group, chosen by DDCA, includes two 1983 World Cup winners Madan Lal and Sunil Valson and first-class player Vinay Lamba, was set up before the start of the 2022-23 season.

Delhi had finished sixth in Group B in last season’s Ranji Trophy and failed to qualify for  the knockouts this season too.

The TEG report, submitted last March, is part of a police complaint filed in December 2023 at the IP Estate Police Station by one Avdesh Sharma, that names top DDCA officials accusing them of mismanagement and corruption.

According to the TEG report, DDCA joint-secretary (Rajan Manchanda) told the TEG that he was only following instructions of president Rohan Jaitley. Lamba, a member of the TEG, confirmed that the issue was “related to team selection.” On Page 2, the report also mentions that “everyone had a direct line to the president (Jaitley).”

When contacted, Madan Lal and Lamba confirmed that the report was emailed to DDCA president Jaitley. “A copy was emailed to DDCA president Rohan Jaitley and secretary Siddharth Sahib Singh,” Lamba said.

Lal told The Indian Express, “Whatever we have mentioned in the report, I stand by it. Our aim of conducting the review was to inform the association about how to improve the standard of Delhi cricket. We have spoken to selectors and coaches and a couple of senior players and after that we prepared this report. Whatever is in the report is what they have told us.”

Asked about these allegations, Jaitley said: “The TEG members met me before they were to submit the report. But I never got the report. If I had read the contents of the report and there were major issues, then I would have referred it to the Apex Council.”

On the issue of his alleged interference in team selection as flagged by the TEG report, Jaitley said: “If people told the TEG that they were following my instructions for team selection, why didn’t the TEG ask me for my version? The TEG didn’t give me an opportunity to speak. Anyone can say anything, but it need not be the truth. I am willing to talk to the TEG members and discuss their findings. I am all for implementing reforms in Delhi cricket.”

Lamba said that the findings in the report were painstakingly put together but it seems to have been brushed under the carpet. “We told them (DDCA office-bearers) that they should go through it thoroughly and try to bring about changes. The TEG report was not meant to target a person but for the betterment of Delhi cricket. We emailed the report to the president and secretary. We (TEG) were given the responsibility by them. But got no response,” he said.

Lamba said that the TEG had dissuaded selectors from picking jumbo teams for tournaments. In November, the team (Under-16) for the Vijay Merchant Trophy had 21 players but an extra 23 were asked to register themselves as backups in case of injury.

Jaitley, however, said the additional players were called up because of fitness issues and the age verification.

“We had made it very clear that the culture of sending jumbo teams — 24 to 30 players — had to stop,” Lamba said.

Lal added that DDCA didn’t get in touch with TEG members before the start of the current season.

“This year when the season started we were not called, so I think DDCA decided to discontinue our services,” Lal said.

In an email, DDCA’s Interim CEO and GM R R Singh said Sharma “lacks credibility”.

“The complaint relies upon a purported report of a Technical Expert Group (TEG). It is made clear that no such report has been received by the DDCA from the TEG. The veracity of the purported report is (under) doubt,” Singh wrote.

The email also stated that Sharma was trying to “arm twist DDCA” to get his son and nephew selected in the team.

“It is pertinent to point out herein that Mr. Avdesh Sharma is facing a criminal complaint (along with his wife Mahima Sharma and son Anirudh Sharma) of age fraud by falsifying the age record… The Hon’ble Ombudsman, DDCA is seized of the complaint. The Delhi Police is investigating a Complaint dated 09.02.2024 by a third party who has acted as a whistleblower. DDCA had received a notice dated 20.02.2024 from the investigation officer seeking relevant information and records from the DDCA in this regard, which have been furnished on 22.02.2024.”

A senior police officer said an inquiry was conducted following Sharma’s complaint.

“The Supreme Court-appointed Ombudsman may be the right forum for such a complaint. We did not find any specific cognizable offence. We have also received a complaint from the DDCA against the complainant (after he filed a complaint against them) and are enquiring into it,” the officer said.

When contacted, Sharma said he did not want to comment on the allegations related to his son. “I filed the complaint but didn’t pursue it as that is the job of the police,” Sharma said Thursday.

The TEG review paints a sorry state of Delhi cricket. It says teams were poorly prepared, there were last minute appointments of coaches, selectors and support staff, lack of strategy or vision. It also mentions that players — even juniors — lacked fitness and were hiding injuries, and “many did not have commitment to Delhi”.

This Ranji Trophy season, Delhi lost the season opener to Puducherry, one of the nine new teams added to the domestic circuit five years ago. Delhi failed to reach the knockouts yet again after three wins, two losses and two draws. Moreover, 10 cricketers played just one game before being omitted while a total of 27 players represented Delhi in the seven games. The last time Delhi progressed to the knockouts of the Ranji Trophy was in 2017.

For the latest news from across India, Political updates, Explainers, Sports News, Opinion, Entertainment Updates and more Top News, visit Indian Express. Subscribe to our award-winning Newsletter Download our App here Android & iOS

News Related

OTHER NEWS

Guru Nanak Jayanti: Rishi Sunak Highlights Punjabi Heritage In Message, Trudeau Extends Greetings

In a greeting from 10 Downing Street on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mentioned his Punjabi Indian origin, news agency PTI reported. The 43-year-old ... Read more »

What US easing sanctions on Venezuela, home to world’s largest oil reserves, could mean for India

This report is the second of a three-part series on recent Indian engagement in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region. New Delhi: The US’ decision last month to ease ... Read more »

Rajshri Deshpande dedicates OTT award to innocent lives lost in Gaza, Palestine

Rajshri Deshpande dedicates OTT award to innocent lives lost in Gaza, Palestine Actor and social worker Rajshri Deshpande won the Best Actor, Series (Female) award for Netflix’s ‘Trial By Fire’. ... Read more »

‘Ramchandra Keh Gaye…’: From Jan 1, RSS to Spread Word of God, Ayodhya Inauguration Among 10 Crore People

‘Ramchandra Keh Gaye…’: From Jan 1, RSS to Spread Word of God, Ayodhya Inauguration Among 10 Crore People In its effort to take the Ram Janmabhoomi message to households across ... Read more »

Ace designer Rohit Bal critical, on ventilator: report

Ace designer Rohit Bal critical, on ventilator: report Celebrated fashion designer Rohit Bal is in critical condition and is on ventilator support, HT City reported, quoting sources. He has been ... Read more »

Bengaluru: Traffic Advisory Issued, Parking Restrictions In Place As Samyukta Horata Samiti Holds Protest | Details

Bengaluru: Traffic Advisory Issued, Parking Restrictions In Place As Samyukta Horata Samiti Holds Protest | Details The Bengaluru Traffic Police has issued a traffic advisory for November 27 and 28 ... Read more »

Vistara Flights Diverted Due To Air Congestion At Delhi Airport | DETAILS

vistara flights diverted due to air congestion at delhi airport | details Delhi: Two Vistara flight has been diverted to Lucknow and Jaipur due to bad weather and air congestion ... Read more »
Top List in the World