Big controversy in DDCA meeting, selector Sidana left the meeting midway
New Delhi. The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) is once again in the news for all the wrong reasons as senior and U-25 men’s selector Mayank Sidana walked out of the selection committee meeting after a spat with chairman Gagan Khoda and secretary Siddharth Sahib Singh. Got up and left. Also, Delhi head coach Abhay Sharma’s decision to open middle-order specialist batsman Ayush Badoni on a wet pitch against veteran domestic pacer Jaydev Unadkat on his Ranji debut is also under scrutiny.
Two specialist openers in Delhi’s 19-member squad, Vaibhav Sharma and Salil Malhotra, are currently in the team hotel as BCCI rules do not allow more than 15 players to be present in the dressing room. The Delhi senior team was on the verge of being bundled out for less than 20 runs in the first innings against Saurashtra but eventually managed to score 133 runs. Unadkat took eight wickets for 39 runs including a hat-trick in the first over for the first time in Ranji history. Former national selector Khoda and former first-class cricketer Secretary Verma accused Sidana of wanting to include some questionable players in the Under-25 team for the CK Nayudu Trophy.
On Wednesday, DDCA’s senior selection committee had a meeting to pick the Delhi U-25 team and Sidana left the meeting without signing the team list. Sidana, who played 30 first-class, 33 List A and 22 T20 matches for Punjab, told PTI that yes, I objected to chairman and other selector Anil Bhardwaj picking certain players. Even the secretary Siddharth Verma did not pay heed to my objections. So I didn’t even sign the team list and got up and walked out. Everything is recorded on camera.
When asked about the reason for the rift, Sidana said Khoda did not watch any of the U-25 trial matches and the other selector Bhardwaj wanted only one player in the squad. He said that I had to say that when he was given a chance in the first BCCI (U-25) tournament, his performance was not good enough, but he decided to go by the results of the trial matches. I cannot support unfair practices. When asked about Sidana’s allegations, Khoda, who played two ODIs for India, said, “I have played enough cricket and also been a national selector.” I don’t want to insult myself by replying to Sidana’s allegations. I won’t say a single word. You go and ask him why he left the meeting.
Khoda, however, could not give a clear answer when asked why Badoni was given the responsibility to open the innings on a difficult pitch when the team had two specialist openers. Khoda said, “Look, we select the team and coach the playing XI. We don’t interfere. When contacted the DDCA secretary said that there was no wrong selection. Siddharth, son of former Delhi Chief Minister late Sahib Singh Verma and younger brother of Bharatiya Janata Party MP Pravesh Verma, said that Mayank Sidana wanted to include a player named Gagan Vats in the team. We can show the score sheet that Solanki scored more runs than Vats in the trial matches. It is very unfortunate that he did not sign the team sheet.
Another allegation against Verma is that he did not allow former India fast bowler and U-25 coach Pankaj Singh to attend the selection meeting in person. A DDCA official, who did not wish to be named, said that he was not allowed into the meeting as he did not have the secretary’s permission to be personally present for the discussion. This was when his advice as a coach was needed. Verma, who played Ranji Trophy for Delhi and Railways, defended the move. He said that we added Pankaj on the conference call and got to know his point of view. Why are Vaibhav and Salil sitting in the team hotel when both have opened the innings for Delhi Under-19 and Under-25 teams.
Joined India’s Emerging Team and how vice-captain Himmat Singh was dropped till the last match. Why is Delhi playing with only two specialist bowlers. There are many questions that are looking for answers.
