MATCH REPORTS
STAT SHEET
DIARY
HOT LINKS
OTHER SPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
BOOKS & THINGS
PEOPLE
DEAR REDIFF

DDCA alleges step-motherly treatment to Delhi players

The Delhi and District Cricket Association lodged a strong protest on Monday with the Board of Control for Cricket in India for the "step-motherly treatment" meted out to its players, despite their good showing in national tournaments.

In a letter to BCCI acting secretary J Y Lele, DDCA president K K Mehra alleged that national selectors were wilfully ignoring the claims of Delhi's talented players who have done well in the Ranji trophy and other national tournaments.

He also alleged that there was a systematic attempt to sideline the DDCA in all national-level cricketing activities.

Talking to the press, Mehra asserted that Delhi players not only broke the national records but also played creditably in the national tournaments ''Yet they have not been considered for the Indian team.''

''I specifically mention the cases of wicketkeeper-batsman Vijay Dahiya, medium pacer Robin Singh and allrounder Ajay Sharma," he said.

He said that while Sharma has batted well in the 1996-97 Ranji games, Dahiya had scored against every team in the national tournaments. He was young, has age on his side and was the best wicket keeper-batsman in the country for Tests and one-dayers, Mehra said, adding that Robin Singh too had earned praise during the recent camp at Bangalore.

"Why have domestic cricket when you don't consider the performers for the national squad, he asked. Mehra also lashed out at the Australian Cricket Board for its reported refusal to send its team to play in "polluted" Delhi. He expressed surprise that the BCCI had not reacted to the ACB's statements, pointing out that the Australian high commission was located in the city and that other Australian teams have played in the city.

Mehra said if things continued as they were, the DDCA would ask the central government to intervene in the matter "so that justice is done to Delhi''.

UNI