DDCA rejects Sarandeep Singh's application

The Cricket Affairs Committee (CAC) of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) headed by Madan Lal has refused to accept national selector Sarandeep Singh’s application for the role of chairman of state team’s selection committee. Sarandeep had written a letter to the CAC stating that he would like to become chairman of selectors free of cost.

However, on Monday, it was found that according to the Lodha Committee’s recommendations, he does not fit the criteria and as a result, was not even summoned for an interview and eventually, rejected. As Sarandeep is presently in Sri Lanka tracking the team’s ODI performance, and if he would have been considered for the role, he would have to go through the process on Skype, like Vijay Dahiya had to.

“Yes, Sarandeep’s plea has been rejected. If he were to become Delhi selector, he would have had to leave his national selector’s job as Lodha Panel Reforms does not allow multiple post for a single person. Therefore, even if he wanted to do the assignment on a pro bono (free of cost) basis, it was not possible,” a senior DDCA official told PTI, as reported by FirstPost.

Sarandeep’s contention was that his colleagues in the national selection committee MSK Prasad and Devang Gandhi are both chairmen of their respective state selection committees.

“At DDCA, we do not wish to deviate from the Lodha panel reforms. We can’t say why Bengal or Andhra is allowing Devang and Prasad to continue in their respective positions,” the official added.

Meanwhile, the first round interviews for the selection of coaches and selectors were held at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Monday. The five-member CAC was headed by Lal who interviewed the candidates asking them about their vision, the kind of squad they would like to build given the responsibility.

“My interview went off well. I was asked questions on various topics of coaching. I feel confident,” said former Bengal stalwart Ashok Malhotra.

However, the ones who are expected to be front-runners are Vijay Dahiya, Manoj Prabhakar and former coach KP Bhaskar. It was learnt that some of the candidates who appeared for selector’s interview then expressed their keenness to become BCCI match-referees, currently or in the future. One such candidate was Delhi fast bowler Feroz Ghayas, who appeared for selector’s interview but expressed his interest in becoming a domestic match referee. Ghayas had earlier been a match-referee before he migrated to the United States.