Putting a temporary end to the controversy surrounding Virender Sehwag's threat to leave Delhi for Haryana, Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) president Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said that the issues raised by the player are genuine and that they would be acted upon.
He however did not touch upon the role of the controversial sports committee, which has been accused by the player of most of the wrongdoing.
"Two of our very senior players -- Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir -- met me and we also had the fortune of being joined by Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. We discussed various issues that certainly have been a matter of concern. Our discussion, because of the nature of the issues involved, was certainly not adversarial," Jaitley said on Tuesday evening.
The two senior players "put the point across in a dignified manner" and they "went back as enthusiastic, well-meaning and happy young men", Jaitley said.
Among the many issues Sehwag had raised is the amount of interference that the sports committee is exerting on the selection process.
Jaitley said the size of the selection committee would be reduced and that competent people would be appointed as selectors.
While Jaitley spoke about all other issues in detail and promised change, he did not say much about the functioning of the sports committee.
Sehwag had alleged that there is interference and manipulation from the 12-member sports committee.
But Jaitley denied that anything is wrong with the sports committee, and merely said that the selection process would be made transparent and "absolutely fair".
He also said the sports committee would not be dissolved and added that it is only a recommending body and the ultimate authority lay with the executive committee.
"The sports committee is a body of various clubs of Delhi. They organise tournaments and leagues. The committee only makes suggestions and recommendations, including the choice of selectors but the executive committee makes the decisions. There is accountability at some level or the other," Jaitley said.
What Sehwag had raised:
Too much manipulation in the Ranji Trophy selection.
Undue pressure on stand-in skippers when he is away on international duty.
Too much interference and manipulation from the sports committee in selection of junior teams.
What Jaitley has promised:
Size of the selection committee to be reduced
Will ensure that the selection process will be "absolutely fair" and interference will neither be acceptable nor tolerated.
Standards of fairness at the highest level will be maintained.
Ensure that as far as possible first class cricketers will be appointed selectors.
The sports secretary of the DDCA will ensure that the performance during inter club matches will be taken into account while selecting the probable players.
What has been left unsaid:
The role of the sports committee, which is a powerful 12-member committee that can on paper only make recommendations. It is this committee, which is alleged to run the entire administration from behind the scenes, that is said to have exceeded its brief and has tried to influence selection and other administrative processes.
