Confusion over Delhi's Ranji Trophy team - DDCA officials submit three different probables list

Whether Gautam Gambhir will lead Delhi in 2015-16 is a question mired in Delhi cricket’s administrative circus

The past few years have seen the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) come under severe scrutiny for their administrative skills. The latest incident will only add to the stereotype. Three DDCA officials submitted contradictory versions of Ranji Trophy probables' lists, with one naming Gautam Gambhir as Captain and the other, Madan Lal as 'mentor'.

The above mentioned lists were submitted by Chetan Chauhan, DDCA Vice President and Joint Secretary (Sports) Anil Jain. A third list was submitted by a Director of DDCA, Ashok Sharma, also known as 'Mama' in Delhi's cricketing circles.

Chauhan's version named Madan Lal as the mentor, also giving him the full freedom to select the team. Jain's version included Gautam Gambhir as the Captain and gave India's former batsmen the authority to pick his team by Monday morning.

The final list sent by Mama included the name of a cricketer tainted in a match-fixing sting operation by a tv channel from a few years back.

Around 30 names from the first two lists matched, including players such as Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. However, the major confusion was initiated when both parties claimed that their lists were legitimate.

Issue of captaincy bone of contention

Chetan Chauhan told PTI, “The executive body selects the team. I am a vice-president of a Section 8 company. I am well within my right to select probables and I did it after consulting selector Vinay Lamba. I won't allow the hooliganism tactics of the Sports Committee to take over DDCA. I have not appointed Gambhir the captain and he would only do well to not report to Jain."

He added, "Also I don't think anyone can question Madan Lal's credibility as mentor. I won't allow 22-23 people jumbo support staff like earlier years. I know how the siphoning of funds happen and that's the reason why DDCA president Sneh Bansal is not calling an executive committee meeting,"

Anil Jain said, “Who is Chetan Chauhan to select probables? He is just a vice-president while I am the joint secretary in charge of sports. It is my prerogative to select the team and the captain. I have appointed Gautam the captain and it is the final decision. I will appoint the selectors in a couple of days' time. We had to select the probables because less than a month is left for the first Ranji match to be played.”

Players such Subodh Bati and Saurabh Passi are in different lists, adding to the confusion on who will finally get selected.

There is still no confirmation whether Mama's list is valid or not.