By IANS,
New Delhi : Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) President Arun Jaitley Tuesday agreed to make selection process more transparent and also look into the players’ grievances.
Test cricketers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, who captained Delhi in the last two years, have levelled charges of nepotism and interference in the cricketing matters, kicking up a major controversy.
Jaitley met Sehwag and Gambhir along with senior officials of the DDCA Monday night and discussed the issues that had been bothering Sehwag who had threatened not to play for Delhi this season. Former India captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi was also invited to the meeting at the behest of Sehwag.
“Our two senior players put across their points across in a dignified manner and my colleagues responded in a statesman-like manner to positive suggestions. I don’t see this matter developing into any form of crisis. Their objective and our objective is same. It was a healthy discussion,” said Jaitley.
“Various suggestions were made in the meeting. We accepted that steps need to be taken to ensure that standards of fairness should be of the highest level. We require selectors who are experienced and whose past record shows high level of ethics and integrity. It’s the men who man the system.
“There was a suggestion for downsizing the selection committee and it found favour with all my colleagues.”
Talking of selection at junior levels, Jaitley said there should not be any conflict of interests and as far as possible the selectors should be first class cricketers.
“Steps are required to ensure that the selection process of teams is absolutely fair and no interference of any kind in that process is acceptable or will be tolerated.”
Jaitley, however, said the Sports Committee would continue in its advisory capacity and it is for the DDCA executive committee to accept its recommendations or not.
“Sports Committe is a body of various clubs of Delhi. They organise league and other cricketing activities.
“They make suggestions and recommendations to the executive committee on various cricketing matter, including choice of selectors. But, the ultimate decision as to who should be appointed rests with the executive committee. The ultimate decision is ours. We have been working in harmony with the Sports Committee.”
Jaitley also said there were suggestion to have a cricket advisory body comprising of senior players.
“In principle their is difficulty in that but we need to shortlist the individuals who are willing to do the job.”