The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) selection committee that met on Monday to pick a replacement for the injured Shikhar Dhawan, reportedly witnessed acrimonious scenes with the members failing to arrive at a consensus on the issue.
While four of the five selectors repoetedly wanted to send a batsman as replacement, committee chairman, Chetan Chauhan, insisted on picking a medium pacer. Tempers rose when both parties stuck to their respective positions.
“When a batsman is injured, ideally a batman should be sent to replace him. And that’s what we demanded,” said Anil Jain, one of the selectors.
Interestingly, Vijay Dahiya, the coach, said the team management had not made any specific demand to the selection committee.
“We informed them that Shikhar Dhawan wasn’t available owing to injury, but we didn’t make any specific demand. It’s up to the selectors to decide on the replacement,” he told HT from Agartala, where Delhi are playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Sources in the DDCA said the situation aggravated with the selectors taking digs at each other. Chauhan, though, denied this.
{{/usCountry}}Sources in the DDCA said the situation aggravated with the selectors taking digs at each other. Chauhan, though, denied this.
{{/usCountry}}“There were no arguments, though difference of opinion is always there. We aren’t sending anyone as of now, but will send either (Ashish) Nehra or (Sumit) Narwal, depending on which of the two recovers from injury and is available,” he said.
But the fact that the meeting couldn’t reach an agreement clearly suggests that it was more than mere difference of opinion.
As a result, Delhi will have to make do without a replacement for the time being.