Delhi U-14 cricketers misbehave with air hostess in Srinagar hotel

Coach Raju Tandon and assistant coach Randhir Singh have been sacked for slapping the four boys and making them apologise for their behaviour.

In another incident four days ago,one of the team members nearly fell from the sixth floor of the building during a scuffle between players. He managed to

grab a curtain and hang on till he was rescued.

Confirming the two incidents,Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) secretary S P Bansal said the coach and assistant coach have been recalled from Srinagar.

“What has happened is shocking. But we feel the coach should not have beaten the boys. We have a crucial final coming up next week. We didn’t want to call back the boys and upset the team morale. I have,however,asked the manager not to pick the three boys for the game against Jammu & Kashmir tomorrow.”

According to the

manager’s report to the DDCA,the stewardess identified the players to team officials and objected to their behaviour. She didn’t press charges after the management apologised to her.

Angry over the behaviour of the four boys — they were also involved in pushing a team mate out of the sixth-floor window — the coaches then slapped them.

“I have been handling kids of all age groups as an NIS-certified coach and I know the intricacies involved in dealing with the Under-14 group. I merely slapped the boys for their indecent behaviour with a lady. This matter could have snowballed into a bigger issue,very complicated. I never manhandled them or caused any physical injury. The manager (K K Nigam) knows the entire sequence and has filed his report. I got a call this morning from DDCA saying that I have to return to Delhi with immediate effect and I did that. I don’t want to say anything further,” Tandon said.

Nigam was not available for comment.

Kirti Azad,a member of the newly formed Cricket Improvement Committee who chooses coaches and officials to escort the team,defended the DDCA decision to recall the coach and assistant coach.

“They are kids,they are bound to make mistakes in life. But that does not give you the right to hit a boy. Corporal punishment is banned in the country,and coaches have failed to handle the situation. We didn’t call the boys back because they have a match ahead and an all-important final as well. Once it is over,we will thoroughly investigate the matter and,if need be,even ban the boys for a specified period. There is no compromise on discipline,let me assure you,” Azad said.

But Surinder Khanna,who is in charge of junior cricket under the CIC,felt that the DDCA had acted in haste in recalling Tandon.

“I have never faced a situation like this where an 11-year-old and 13-year-old are involved in such a situation. I mean it could have been worse if one of the boys had died or the air hostess had taken the complaint further. I am not defending the coach or assistant coach’s action in hitting the boys but by recalling the coaches,the DDCA has made it look as if they are the only culprits. We need to put the boys and their parents through a disciplinary committee hearing and take appropriate action,” Khanna said.