Virender Sehwag terms Amit Bhandari incident as a 'new low' in cricket

Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) chairman of senior selection committee Amit Bhandari was, on Monday, attacked at St Stephen’s Ground in New Delhi’s Kashmere Gate area where the trials of the Under-23 team for the Mushtaq Ali Trophy were underway. Bhandari, also a former India cricketer, sustained injuries in his head and legs and was admitted in Sant Parmanand Hospital in the capital. The 40-year-old was reportedly out of danger.

It was suspected that Bhandari was attacked by Under-23 aspirants who failed to get selected in the team. He was targeted with iron rods and hockey sticks at the trials and was rushed to hospital by co-selector Sukhvinder Singh. The perpetrators fled the spot before the police arrived. Bhandari also runs a cricket academy in the city.

“Around 1 pm, two-three players came to him (Bhandari) and started hitting him with a bat on his head. He was bleeding and was rushed to hospital,” a DDCA official was quoted as saying by CricketNext.

“The selection committee was selecting players for Mushtaq Ali Trophy selection. One rejected player came to him and questioned why he was not selected. Then he started beating him (Bhandari). First, he used his hands, then used a stick to attack,” DCP Nupur Prasad told the media.

Amit Bhandari himself said after the attack, “I’ve given my statement to the police. I’ve given them the reason of the selection and the names (of attackers) as well.”

According to CricketNext, Delhi U-23 cricketer Anuj Dedha and his goons were suspected to be behind the attack. The DDCA announced a squad of 56 probable members on January 28 and Dedha’s name was in the list. However, he failed to make it to the final list.

Sehwag hopes for stringent action

Former India opener Virender Sehwag condemned the incident and called for strict action against the culprits. He also termed the incident as a ‘new low’ in cricket and felt that the adequate measures should be taken to avoid such things.

The attack on Delhi selector Amit Bhandari for not picking a player is a new low and I am hopeful that stringent action will be taken against the culprit and adequate measures will be taken to avoid such incidents.

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 11, 2019

Bhandari had a short international career between 2000 and 2004 when he played only two ODIs and took five wickets with the best bowling figure of 3 for 31. Besides, he played 95 first-class matches and 105 List A matches, taking 467 wickets in all.

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