DDCA under fire as player who never kept wickets selected as wicketkeeper in Delhi U19 team

The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) is once again under scrutiny after being embroiled in a new controversy surrounding the selection of its U-19 squad. An alleged case has emerged in which a player was picked as a backup wicketkeeper despite never having kept wickets before, reportedly on the insistence of a senior DDCA official.

According to a report by Dainik Jagran, the 23-member squad for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy was selected on October 3, but the inclusion of one particular player, chosen as the 22nd member, raised eyebrows. The concerned DDCA office-bearers lodged a complaint with board president Rohan Jaitley, claiming that a senior official had pressured junior selectors to include the player in the team.

Upon learning of the alleged interference, Jaitley intervened immediately, removing the controversial player’s name from the squad. He was subsequently replaced by another specialist wicketkeeper for the U-23 tournament, scheduled to be held in Ranchi from October 9. Additionally, two other players were dropped from the team, including one due to discrepancies in documentation.

The issue surfaced shortly after DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma sent a letter to Rohan Jaitley, objecting to the presence of three directors, Harsh Singla, Anand Verma, and Manjeet Singh, during a selection committee meeting for the U-23 and Ranji Trophy teams. Sharma alleged that the trio insisted on attending the meeting and refused to leave, further deepening tensions within the association.

“Directors cannot be part of the selection committee meetings. However, Harsh Singla, Anand Verma and Manjeet Singh entered the room and demanded that they be part of the meeting. I had to defer the meeting as they refused to leave. I have written a letter to the DDCA president highlighting the issues related to today’s selection committee meeting," Sharma told The Indian Express.

Sharma also raised concerns about the selection process through the letter, highlighting irregularities and undue influence.

“The recent selection process has raised serious concerns about the functioning of the DDCA selection committee. Contrary to established practices and BCCI guidelines, the Apex Council members have overstepped their roles, undermining the autonomy and credibility of the selection committee. We urge you to revisit the selection process and ensure that it adheres to the norms and best practices followed by the BCCI… today, a few directors also attended the meeting, which raises concerns about potential bias and undue influence. Notably, one of the directors’ presence seems particularly pertinent given that a family member is a candidate for selection," the letter stated.