NEW DELHI: Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) joint secretary Amit Grover has formally raised reservations over the proposed appointments of Varun Sood and Manu Nayyar as part of the Delhi cricket setup, questioning whether they meet the prescribed eligibility criteria.In an email sent to members of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) on Friday, a copy of which TimesofIndia.com has, Grover said he wanted to place his concerns on record before the selection process concluded. He urged the committee to examine the relevant records and applicable rules before making any final decision on the proposed appointments. The email is addressed to members of the CAC and copied to the DDCA top brass.“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.Manu Nayyar has been appointed as selector for the senior men’s team and Varun Sood as assistant coach for the men’s U-19 team. It is worth noting that there was an issue with Nayyar’s availability last season as he was reportedly missing due to committments in an overseas league, when the teams were being picked at DDCA.“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,” said a recipient of the email.TimesofIndia.com reached out to DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma for a comment but received no response.Former India wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya has been reappointed as head coach of the Delhi Ranji Trophy team as the DDCA named coaches, mentors and High Performance Centre staff, with several former players and their sons also finding assignments in the appointments. There are 22 coaches, including head coaches, assistant coaches, bowling coaches and fielding coaches, appointed across the senior men’s team to the U-14 level, while 18 have been appointed across various women’s teams.Meanwhile, Grover emphasised that the concerns had been communicated before the completion of the selection process and, therefore, should be considered by the CAC before any appointment was finalised. He said the committee should satisfy itself that all eligibility conditions and prescribed criteria had been complied with.The DDCA joint secretary also questioned the proposed composition of the selection panel, pointing out that it appeared to substantially comprise the same selectors who were associated with the process last year.His concern comes against the backdrop of what he described as disappointing performances by Delhi cricket. Grover acknowledged that continuity could have its merits but urged the CAC to exercise “greater care and circumspection” while selecting coaches and selectors. He said recent performances, along with eligibility, experience and the overall requirements of Delhi cricket, should be taken into account when making the appointments.“I therefore request the CAC to independently examine all relevant records and applicable criteria before taking any final decision,” Grover wrote, while also requesting that his communication be treated as part of the official record of the selection and appointment process.
