The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Another controversy

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Monday, Feb 13, 2006

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Sport - Cricket

Another controversy

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Selection-related controversies refuse to leave Delhi cricket. The latest in the long list came on Sunday when Delhi succumbed meekly to Punjab in the North Zone one-day league at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground.

Coach Madan Lal claimed he had no clue as far as the playing eleven against Punjab was concerned. Stand-in skipper Aakash Chopra admitted he only put his mandatory signature on the sheet.

Suhail Sharma, who returned an analysis of 10-2-18-3 in the previous match against Jammu and Kashmir, was replaced by off-spinner Yogesh Sachdeva. A winning combination was disturbed. It was ironical that Sachdeva's services could not be used as super-sub Gaurav Chhabra joined the action.

Madan Lal was not even aware that Chopra had been appointed skipper in place of Mithun Manhas.

"I knew nothing about the change in captaincy. I had no role in finalising the playing eleven for this match (against Punjab). It is sad the way things have happened. Youngsters can't play in such an atmosphere. I have just told them look after themselves because all this will only harm them," said Madan Lal, the anguish on his face reflecting the man's frustration.

War zone

The Delhi dressing room was nothing short of a war zone on Sunday morning as the composition of the final eleven became a thorny issue. Extraneous forces once again played a hand in demoralising the Delhi camp.

The selectors were appalled at Chopra leading despite Manhas' presence. "We had asked Chopra to lead only if Mithun was not available. We will also question the team management on why Suhail was dropped after having performed," said Delhi selection committee chairman Anil Jain, who admitted he and his colleagues had been receiving threats to include a particular player in one of the remaining matches.

With Manhas not willing to lead, and Chopra too expected to stay away from the responsibility, Delhi would be forced to look for a new captain for its next match against Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday.

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