DDCA chief sacks senior selectors after Delhi's defeat to Saurashtra

Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rohan Jaitley sacked the senior selection committee, including former national selector Gagan Khoda, on Thursday after Delhi's embarrassing defeat against Saurashtra. The other two selectors who have been shown the door are Mayank Sidhana and Anil Bhardwaj.

There have also been some reports of infighting within the panel, with Jaitley also blaming them for making some strange selections and their “scant commitment” towards Delhi cricket. Delhi were hammered by an innings and 214 runs by Saurashtra and are yet to win a game in the ongoing 2022-23 Ranji Trophy. As a result, they are placed second-last in Elite Group B.

"The issue of manner in which players are being selected and replaced at the drop of a hat has become talk of the town. Recently in a meeting, it was informed that a replacement was sent for a senior player who was stated to be injured, the replacement while reaching there was also declared to be injured and another replacement was sent," Jaitley wrote in his letter to DDCA's apex council and CAC members.

"Despite clearly informing the committee that the number of players shall be restricted to 15-16 players, the committee has time and again recommended 20-22 member squad for each team. Therefore, these committees are not only doing disservice to the DDCA but also to the game of cricket."

DDCA's Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Nikhil Chopra, Gursharan Singh and Reema Malhotra will now pick the team for the remainder of the season. Jaitley also spoke about how Delhi don't even have a single player in the squad who can walk into the national set-up.

"There was a time when Indian team would have at least four to five Delhi players. The situation today is such that we cannot name even a single player whom we perceive as a potential candidate for the national team.

"The absolute lack of planning for Delhi Cricket is apparent on the face of it more so with regard to the vision and future course as discussed and planned...It is unfortunate that the Selection committee has shown scant commitment to the same."