Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) faced an embarrassment thanks to a selection controversy that occurred when the Delhi U19 squad was chosen for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy. A proper opener with no experience of keeping wickets was included in the squad as backup wicket-keeper, all under pressure from a senior DDCA official.

The primary wicketkeeper in the 23-member squad announced on October 3 was Abhiraj Gagan Singh. However, the second wicketkeeper position, marked as number 22 on the team sheet, was filled by a player who, according to internal concerns, "doesn't keep wickets at all," according to a Dainik Jagran report.

Several DDCA officials reported the issue to President Rohan Jaitley, and when he learned that the player was included not on merit but on recommendation, he acted immediately. The president removed the player from the squad and allowed a genuine wicketkeeper to take his place. The updated team has since left for Ranchi, where the Vinoo Mankad Trophy kicks off on October 9.

Insiders believe that selectors were not at fault in this occurrence. Instead, the blame is being placed on a senior DDCA official who allegedly put pressure on the non-wicketkeeping batter to join the team, portraying him as a backup wicketkeeper.

"When someone is included as a wicketkeeper despite not having any credentials for the role, it’s obvious there is a larger reason or influence at play," said a source who spoke to Dainik Jagran.

The controversy didn't end there. The squad required two additional alterations. One participant was dropped due to irregularities in filed documentation, while another had to be removed for unclear reasons.

Furthermore, despite an explicit order from the association's Lokpal (Ombudsman) last year prohibiting DDCA officials from attending selection committee meetings, both Secretary Ashok Sharma and Joint Secretary Amit Grover reportedly attended the recent U19 selection meeting, which was chaired by Ashu Dani.

This is in direct violation of the Lokpal’s interim order dated September 22, 2023, which was issued after a similar breach involving former secretary Siddharth Sahib Singh Verma.

DDCA member Suresh Kumar Sharma had informed DDCA president Jaitley on September 28 about Lokpal’s directive that no DDCA office-bearer was to be present in selection committee meetings to ensure unbiased team selection. But it seems the directive was not followed, and questions have been raised about whether internal politics continue to influence team selection and undermine fairness in Delhi cricket.

(Dainik Jagran report)