DDCA grapples with internal turmoil as officials defy orders

The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) finds itself once again in a state of disarray — both on and off the field. While Delhi’s teams continue to underperform this season, the association has admitted that two officials were sacked due to an “unprecedented situation” and for “reasons beyond control.”

Former Delhi batsman Ashu Dani, who was chairman of the men’s junior selection committee, and 1979 World Cupper Surender Khanna, a member of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), were removed for their involvement in an unauthorised T20 tournament, the Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL), held in Jammu and Kashmir. Dani served as president of the IHPL, while Khanna was its mentor. The tournament was abruptly halted after organisers allegedly abandoned it midway, leading to a police case.

Meanwhile, Manu Nayyar, a member of the current senior selection committee, has travelled to the US for a tournament called the Mayor’s New World T20. He is accompanied by a few other coaching staff the DDCA has appointed for the ongoing cricket season. All are expected to be paid handsomely – both by the DDCA and by the Mayor’s New World T20, interestingly organised by a company secretary who had been an advisor to the DDCA.

All three senior selectors are supposed to be watching Delhi’s Ranji Trophy campaign. Yet, no action has been taken against Nayyar. Delhi’s performance in the men’s national championship remains lacklustre, the seven-wicket defeat to Jammu and Kashmir on home turf being the latest embarrassment. After four matches, Delhi languishes at sixth spot in the eight-team Group D, and its progress to the knockout round now looks tough.

CAC, junior panel reconstituted

Following the IHPL controversy and the subsequent FIR filed after organisers went missing, the DDCA was left with little choice but to remove Dani and Khanna. However, no disciplinary action has been taken so far against those who travelled to the US.

A source told Patriot that DDCA president Rohan Jaitley had advised the personnel not to undertake the US tour. “Some people heeded his advice and stayed back, while others chose to defy him and left for the US and associated themselves with the IHPL,” the source said.

This possibly explains the DDCA’s phrasing — “for reasons beyond control” — in its official notification announcing the reconstitution of the junior selection panel and the CAC.

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Praveen Gupta has now been promoted to head the junior selection panel, with Abhishek Sharma retaining his place and Varun Sood joining as the new member. In the CAC, former India pacer Robin Singh (Junior) replaces Khanna, joining Vijay Dahiya, who had earlier succeeded Nikhil Chopra after Chopra’s election to the Indian Cricketers’ Association. Anjali Sharma continues as the woman member.