MORE WILL FOLLOW: VIRU

The DDCA,after initially calling Sehwags stand pressure tactics,went into damage control mode on Tuesday,asking its players to refrain from making any comments to the media. However,that did not stop former Delhi cricketers from coming out in support of the India openers stance,mounting the pressure on the DDCA to take some action to try and resolve the issue.

Most of them blamed the sports committee for creating an unhealthy atmosphere in the Delhi dressing room,and called for the establishment of a Cricket Committee on the lines of the one appointed by the Mumbai Cricket Association- that will have only cricketers running the show.

Vivek Razdan,who was part of the selection committee that was dissolved by president Arun Jaitley in 2006 over a controversy,says the pressure on selectors from the sports committee is huge. We picked up a player because of huge pressure from executive committee and sports committee members. It was a mistake and I did not mind when we were dismissed, he told The Indian Express. The next time I was appointed after a one-year break,I told myself I would never repeat the mistake. There was a fight with a committee member and Jaitley had to intervene, he said,pointing out that Delhi won the Ranji Trophy that year.

Surinder Khanna also threw his weight behind the players. I think Viru,Gauti,Nehra and Ishant need to be complimented for taking up the cause. They have everything going for them but have taken it up for itself to clean up the mess. I am hurt to hear that DDCA people are saying let them take an NOC and leave. How can anyone say that? Its time that we formed a cricket committee on the lines of Mumbai and let cricketers alone take calls on cricketing issues, Khanna said.

Former Indian skipper and Delhi coach Bishen Singh Bedi said,What is the DDCA? Its not about the stadium,or about the pitch its about the players. I have been saying this ever since my playing days. The top man Arun Jaitley has to take some unpleasant decisions. If Sehwag or any other players choose to leave Delhi,its Delhis loss, he said.

Former India fast bowler Atul Wasan feels the selectors have little choice in the matter,considering the pressure they come under from the sports committee. The sports committee runs cricket in Delhi. The selectors have no choice but to please the sports committee,because if they raise any kind of opposition,they will not survive. Opposition from the selectors will not even make too much of a difference to the working of the DDCA, he said.

Other former cricketers who spoke out against the DDCA include former India cricketers Madan Lal,batsman Gursharan Singh and Venkat Sundaram.

Forced on the backfoot following the barrage of criticism,DDCA maintained their wait and watch policy and said they were sure the crisis would be resoved. Vice-president Chetan Chauhan admitted that things were going wrong. The executive committee will soon put their heads together,talk with the warring players and thrash out the issue.

Secretary SP Bansal,one of the two members along with Jaitley likely to engage in talks with Sehwag,said,we have taken note of all the players grievances. We have often included cricketers in our selection set up and we will continue to incorporate them. However,if players are not satisfied we will address their problems.

UNDER PRESSURE

The players have asked that four out of five Delhi selectors excluding chairman Chetan Chauhan be sacked. A look at who they are:

Bantu Singh: The former Delhi middle-order batsman has played 69 first-class matches and scored 3694 runs,including 11 centuries. He has been a selector for the last two years in this stint,his second on the panel.

Rajkumar Sharma: The former India U-19 off-spinner played 11 first-class matches for Delhi between 1986 and 1990. He is Virat Kohlis coach,and has been a part of the committee for the last two years.

Anil Jain: Now Jt secretary sports,Jain has played four first-class matches for Delhi,and was the chairman of selection committee that was disbanded by DDCA president Arun Jaitley in 2006 over a selection controversy.

Nikhil Chopra: The former India off-spinner has been a selector for the last three years. He has played 39 one-day internationals and one Test match,apart from 61 first-class matches.

RECENT CONTROVERSIES

amp;149; Last year,selectors dropped former Indian fast bowler Amit Bhandari hours before the Ranji match against Hyderabad. Bhandari subsequently was axed from the squad,despite reasonable performances and was asked to announce his retirement,which he refused to do.

amp;149; The year before that,former India spinner Rahul Sanghvi left the Ranji team midway through the season after selectors pressurised him to retire. Sanghvi was later recalled for Delhis semi-final match after a stormy selection meeting,where Gautam Gambhir threatened walk out.

amp;149; Last season,Mayank Tehlan had been shown the door and the selectors had to choose between all-rounder Ankur Jhulka and Vartik Tihara. The selectors picked Tihara over Jhulka,saying he was a specialist batsman and a like-to-like replacement for Tehlan. Vartiks highest score till that point was 92. It wasnt a unanimous decision but a majority decision, Chetan Chauhan had said at the time.