Legendary India opener Virender Sehwag has resigned from Delhi and District Cricket Association’s cricket committee bearing the governing body’s interest in mind.
According to a PTI report, Sehwag alongside committee members Aakash Chopra and Rahul Sanghvi had recommended the retention of Manoj Prabhakar as bowling coach but it wasn’t approved by the management.
It is yet to be confirmed whether this was the only reason behind Sehwag’s resignation, but according to DDCA sources the resignation has been accepted.
“We had come together and given time and effort with the idea of contributing and helping in the improvement of Delhi cricket within the framework of our role as a cricket committee,” Sehwag quoted as saying by PTI.
‘‘However, looking at the best interest of Delhi Cricket, we would like to inform you that all three of us would not be able to continue with the assignment of Cricket Committee of DDCA any further due to our busy schedule in day to day life,” he added.
Report also suggests that skipper Gautam Gambhir had reservations against Prabhakar’s appointment as he had been named in the match-fixing scandal in the 1990s.
“Gautam has always followed this principle that he doesn’t want anyone remotely involved in malpractice like match-fixing to be a part of Delhi dressing room,” a DDCA official quoted as saying by PTI on the condition of anonymity.
“However, it is wrong to say that Sehwag and Gambhir had a tiff on Prabhakar issue as the latter was special invitee to the panel. After the new constitution is adopted, Sehwag would have been hit by Conflict of Interest clause as he is an expert in the DDCA president’s channel. Similarly, Sanghvi is associated with Mumbai Indians. So they knew they had to go,” the official added.
It is worth mentioning here that the newly elected president of DDCA, Rajat Sharma, had disclosed the appointment of a Cricket Committee in July. The DDCA president had also mentioned Gambhir as a "special invitee to the committee", without further clarifying on his role.
(With PTI inputs)
