There will be no exodus, after all. After a week of intense speculation over the possibility of Virender Sehwag leading a revolt against
the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) and its ‘corrupt’ ways and shifting base to Haryana, the issue finally looked to have been resolved.
It was at the Monday-night meeting between Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and the DDCA top brass at president Arun Jaitley’s house, where the India duo — accompanied by former India skipper Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi — was assured that the Association would take steps to address the issues raised.
“We discussed several issues and I can tell you that the nature of discussion was not adversarial,” Jaitley said at a press conference at the Ferozeshah Kotla on Tuesday.
The cricketers’ concern centred around a biased selection process in the state teams. “Their suggestions were well-intentioned and I told both the players and my colleagues that steps should be taken so that the standard of fairness of the highest level is maintained,” Jaitley said.
However, what will not please the players was Jaitley saying that the system of selectors being nominated by the Sports Committee would continue. The role and working of the Sports Committee had come under severe criticism from Sehwag, with the Delhi skipper accusing it of pressurising selectors to pick certain players.
“The job of the Sports Committee is to only nominate names for selectors, in the end, it is up to the Executive Committee to either agree or disregard those names,” Jaitley said. “I can tell you the best way to run the system is to not confront your own bodies. You have to reconcile with your bodies, you can make suggestions, and I have not found them in defiance of the Executive Committee. I don’t think they will be.”
The president, however, agreed there was room for improvement in the running of junior cricket in the state.
{{/usCountry}}The president, however, agreed there was room for improvement in the running of junior cricket in the state.
{{/usCountry}}“The effort of those who assess the performance in junior cricket has to be more,” Jaitley said. “People are still maturing, still developing, an assessment is also difficult. In fact, we would like some of our most tested and trusted selectors to spend their time even on junior cricket.”
Jaitley was confident the impasse had been resolved, saying: “I hope everybody plays happily together, which they will.”
Monday meeting: What Sehwag and Gambhir said
That sports committee members should not interfere in selections. What they reportedly said was that the sports committee first appointed its own selectors and then forced those men to select their own wards to various Delhi teams.
That the Ranji captain should have a greater say in selection matters. They felt that there was no point in the senior players be asked for their opinion and then, have that opinion disregarded come selection time.
That sports committee members should “behave properly” with senior Ranji players and not “talk roughly” to them.
That what happened outside of cricketing matters at the DDCA was not their business. That if someone had to be “obliged” in the DDCA, he should be obliged in some other department of administration, not by allowing him any interference in matters cricket.
That Delhi hosted many important tournaments like the Lala Raghubir and the GG Dutt and either selectors or those who could spot talent and let the selectors know should be present at such tournaments.
That pre-season trials for Delhi teams should take the form of a tournament, with players divided into three—four teams. They believed that that would not only help in finding competitive talent but also help in “fostering team spirit”.
That a committee of senior (former) players is set up, one that can handle cricket-related affairs in DDCA and advise the executive on cricketing matters. (DDCA president Arun Jaitley later stated that MAK Pataudi would be asked to chair this committee)
They said that men of integrity, people who could withstand pressure, should be selectors and suggested several names as potential candidates for the selection committee (please see box)
(Note: They did not ask that the sports committee be disbanded or the sports secretary be sacked. There was no threat of any mutiny nor blackmail of any sort)