Delhi selectors wants Dev out of u-19 selection meet

The three selectors – Maninder Singh (chairman), Ashu Dani and Chetnya Nanda wrote to Justice Mukul Mudgal (who's in charge of DDCA affairs) asking him to keep out Sunil Dev from the North Zone under-19 selection meeting on Sunday.

Justice Mukul Mudgal informed that Sunil Dev shall have no role to play in Delhi but he exercises no control over his zonal appointment.

Delhi will go unrepresented in the North Zone under-19 selection meeting here on Sunday following objections to former Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) sports secretary’s presence as the convenor of the meeting to be held at the Ferozeshah Kotla.

The three selectors – Maninder Singh (chairman), Ashu Dani and Chetnya Nanda, have expressed their displeasure in a letter to Justice (Retd) Mukul Mudgal, who is in charge of running the DDCA affairs.

The letter to Justice Mudgal reads, “Dear Sir, we have been made to understand that in tomorrow’s zonal selection Mr Sunil Dev is going to accompanying us but we don't require any Executive (Member) to accompany us for the selection. We will not go for the meeting if he is accompanying one of us for the selection tomorrow since he has certain issues in the past relating to selection. Please look into this matter.”

Supporting the three selectors, former Test batsman Kirti Azad shot off a letter to Justice Mudgal, pointing out the reasons for the move by the Delhi selectors.

“We have learnt that in a quid pro quo arrangement, Chetan Chauhan, convener appointed by you for the Junior age group teams, is trying to get Sunil Dev appointed as convener, North Zone under-19 selection panel which is supposed to pick the team tomorrow. Please note that there are numerous complaints against Dev and many of the ills plaguing Delhi cricket are directly attributable to him,” wrote Azad.

“Sunil Dev has been given no responsibility by you this season and the good results of various teams have already started coming in. The under-19 team has been unbeaten in their four matches till date, and our Ranji team is doing exceptionally well against Assam in Vadodara where their match is currently in progress,” Azad added.

Azad appealed to Justice Mudgal to, “Please not allow Chetan Chauhan or Siddharth Singh Verma to outsource this crucial responsibility to people who have brought a bad name to Delhi cricket all these years. Please also take action against Chetan Chauhan who on his own, has outsourced an onerous responsibility to a man whose reputation precedes him and in whom no cricketer has any trust,” Azad concluded.

Justice Mudgal, meanwhile, has informed that Sunil Dev shall have no role to play in Delhi but he exercises no control over his zonal appointment. A DDCA source informed that Dev’s tenure as an Executive Member had expired on September 30.