NEW DELHI: Head Coach of Delhi Abhay SharmaThe days could be numbered as the Cricket Advisory Committee headed by Nikhil Chopra, Gursharan Singh and Reema Malhotra are set to sack the former Railways skipper over the team’s non-performance in the ongoing Ranji Trophy.
Delhi have two points from four games and are in danger of finishing last in the group.
Abhay’s decisions have gone under the scanner and none of the top brass are happy with him.
“After the selection committee received a pink slip, Abhay cannot escape the ax because he is also responsible for this debacle. The selectors selected the team, but what kind of XI is chosen by him,” said said a senior. DDCA director told PTI on condition of anonymity.
Abhay had propelled former India spinner Sarandeep Singh as head coach and many at DDCA believe it was a bad move.
“Bring a breakdown coach and take it from there,” the manager said.
Khoda hurt for not having the chance to defend himself
Dumped unceremoniously by the Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) from the post of head coach, injured Gagan Khoda said on Friday he was baffled after not being given a chance to explain his views on the Delhi debacle as part of the ongoing Ranji Trophy.
Khoda, along with fellow selectors Mayank Sidhana and Anil Bhardwaj, were sacked by the DDCA cricket advisory committee after a stink from chairman Rohan Jaitley.
“I really don’t need any money from DDCA. I’m a foreigner and I didn’t know any academy or camp or how cricket is run in Delhi. I really wanted to make a difference. But I wasn’t even given me a chance to explain myself,” an irritated Khoda, who served as the national manager until the start of 2021, told PTI.
“I was nominated less than a week before the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. How can I see the players and build a team? Is it also my fault that I was nominated a month after applying?”
DDCA Chairman Rohan Jaitley in his email to the Apex Council was specific about his issues with the selection committee.
Did you replace an injured player with an injured player? Jaitley asked in her email.
Khoda replied, “Look, I’m not a physio or a doctor. I’m going to trust what the physio told me. The so-called injured substitute we’re talking about was declared fit to play by the physio in an e e-mail to the selection committee. Now if the player goes on tour and then says I’m not fit, am I to be blamed for it.”
Although no name has been taken by Khoda, it is believed that Simarjeet Singh, one of Delhi’s most consistent bowlers, was concerned about his workload and perhaps did not want to get injured before the IPL where he is likely to play a role for CSK.
On allegations that he is not watching U-25 trials, Khoda, in his defence, said: “During the first U-25 trials, I was with the senior team in Guwahati for the game against Assam. Before the second game, I was sick and told Anil Bhardwaj that he and Sidhana should watch the game.”
On Sidhana’s allegations of supporting Vikas Solanki, he became furious: “I just don’t want to take his name and talk about the type of players he recommended. And for Solanki, he scored 100 in the match of try and 162 in DDCA Challenger Trophy.”
With U-25 coach Pankaj Singh not allowed to attend a physical meeting, Khoda cited his time as national coach.
“During my time as national coach, it was either MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli who came for a meeting. In our last phase, Rohit (Sharma) came for a few. But I never saw Ravi (former head coach Shastri) attend any meeting.”
Delhi have two points from four games and are in danger of finishing last in the group.
Abhay’s decisions have gone under the scanner and none of the top brass are happy with him.
“After the selection committee received a pink slip, Abhay cannot escape the ax because he is also responsible for this debacle. The selectors selected the team, but what kind of XI is chosen by him,” said said a senior. DDCA director told PTI on condition of anonymity.
Abhay had propelled former India spinner Sarandeep Singh as head coach and many at DDCA believe it was a bad move.
“Bring a breakdown coach and take it from there,” the manager said.
Khoda hurt for not having the chance to defend himself
Dumped unceremoniously by the Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) from the post of head coach, injured Gagan Khoda said on Friday he was baffled after not being given a chance to explain his views on the Delhi debacle as part of the ongoing Ranji Trophy.
Khoda, along with fellow selectors Mayank Sidhana and Anil Bhardwaj, were sacked by the DDCA cricket advisory committee after a stink from chairman Rohan Jaitley.
“I really don’t need any money from DDCA. I’m a foreigner and I didn’t know any academy or camp or how cricket is run in Delhi. I really wanted to make a difference. But I wasn’t even given me a chance to explain myself,” an irritated Khoda, who served as the national manager until the start of 2021, told PTI.
“I was nominated less than a week before the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. How can I see the players and build a team? Is it also my fault that I was nominated a month after applying?”
DDCA Chairman Rohan Jaitley in his email to the Apex Council was specific about his issues with the selection committee.
Did you replace an injured player with an injured player? Jaitley asked in her email.
Khoda replied, “Look, I’m not a physio or a doctor. I’m going to trust what the physio told me. The so-called injured substitute we’re talking about was declared fit to play by the physio in an e e-mail to the selection committee. Now if the player goes on tour and then says I’m not fit, am I to be blamed for it.”
Although no name has been taken by Khoda, it is believed that Simarjeet Singh, one of Delhi’s most consistent bowlers, was concerned about his workload and perhaps did not want to get injured before the IPL where he is likely to play a role for CSK.
On allegations that he is not watching U-25 trials, Khoda, in his defence, said: “During the first U-25 trials, I was with the senior team in Guwahati for the game against Assam. Before the second game, I was sick and told Anil Bhardwaj that he and Sidhana should watch the game.”
On Sidhana’s allegations of supporting Vikas Solanki, he became furious: “I just don’t want to take his name and talk about the type of players he recommended. And for Solanki, he scored 100 in the match of try and 162 in DDCA Challenger Trophy.”
With U-25 coach Pankaj Singh not allowed to attend a physical meeting, Khoda cited his time as national coach.
“During my time as national coach, it was either MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli who came for a meeting. In our last phase, Rohit (Sharma) came for a few. But I never saw Ravi (former head coach Shastri) attend any meeting.”
