Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) joint secretary Amit Grover has raised objections over the proposed appointments of Varun Sood and Manu Nayyar in the Delhi cricket setup, questioning whether the two meet the prescribed eligibility criteria.
Grover formally communicated his concerns to the members of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) in an email sent on Friday, September 25. As reported by The Times of India, Grover urged the CAC to examine the relevant records and applicable rules before taking any final decision on the appointments.
“With regard to the proposed appointments of coaches and selectors, I wish to formally place on record my reservations concerning the proposed appointment of Mr. Varun Sood and Mr. Manu Nayyar, particularly with regard to their eligibility and compliance with the prescribed criteria,” Grover wrote in the email.
Nayyar has been appointed as a selector for Delhi’s senior men’s team, while Sood has been named assistant coach of the men’s U-19 team. Nayyar’s availability was also reportedly an issue last season as he was absent due to commitments in an overseas league when teams were being selected by the DDCA.
DDCA official defends appointments
However, a recipient of Grover’s email defended the appointments and maintained that all the required rules had been followed during the process.
“All the rules have been followed diligently. Everyone who has been appointed has played cricket at the highest level. They have been in the system for a long time. Manu Nayyar is yet to complete his five-year term, whereas Varun has recently retired from playing cricket and knows a thing or two about how modern-day cricket functions. We are all thinking about the betterment of Delhi cricket, and these accusations are needless,” the recipient said.
Meanwhile, former India wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya has been reappointed as the head coach of Delhi’s Ranji Trophy team. The DDCA has also announced coaches, mentors and High Performance Centre staff across its various teams.
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A total of 22 coaches, including head coaches, assistant coaches, bowling coaches and fielding coaches, have been appointed from the senior men’s team down to the U-14 level. Another 18 appointments have been made across the women’s teams.
Grover questions selection panel’s continuity
Grover also raised concerns over the proposed composition of the selection panel, pointing out that it appeared to largely consist of the same selectors who were involved in last year’s process.
His reservations come amid what he described as disappointing performances by Delhi teams. While acknowledging that continuity can have its benefits, Grover urged the CAC to exercise “greater care and circumspection” while finalising the appointments.
He stressed that recent performances, along with eligibility, experience and the broader requirements of Delhi cricket, should be considered before the appointments are finalised.
“I therefore request the CAC to independently examine all relevant records and applicable criteria before taking any final decision,” Grover wrote.
The DDCA joint secretary also requested that his email be treated as part of the official record of the selection and appointment process.
