DDCA’s Senior Men’s Selection Committee Deferred After Secretary’s Unlawful Attempt To Attend Meeting | Cricket News

The senior men’s selection committee of the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) was deferred on Tuesday (September 30) following the forceful and unlawful attempt by secretary Ashok Sharma to attend the meeting.

It has been reported that despite the Ombudsman’s clear directive that no member of the Apex Council is permitted to participate in the Selection Committee proceedings, Sharma insisted on attending the meeting.

This breach of rules was strongly opposed by Manjeet Singh, who emphasised that attending the meeting would violate the Ombudsman’s order. Anand Verma and Harish Singla also advised Sharma not to participate. When he refused to comply, the three members collectively decided to defer the meeting rather than allow a violation of rules.

A formal complaint was submitted to the Ombudsman, and the meeting will remain deferred until further instructions are received.

Reacting to the allegations, Sharma said that the recent selection process has raised serious concerns about the functioning of the DDCA selection committee.

According to him, contrary to established practices and BCCI guidelines, the Apex Council members have overstepped their roles, undermining the autonomy and credibility of the selection committee.

He urged them to revisit the selection process and ensure that it adheres to the norms and best practices followed by the BCCI.

As per him, the selection committee should comprise eminent cricketers, convened by the Secretary of DDCA, to maintain transparency and fairness.

“It has come to our attention that the recent selection committee meeting deviated from past practices, where only the Secretary and Joint Secretary were present. However, 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 their family member is a candidate for selection. We kindly request that future selection committee meetings adhere to established protocols to maintain transparency, fairness, and the integrity of the selection process,” Sharma said in a release.