Bedi attacks `proxy’ system

NEW DELHI, November 22: Bishan Singh Bedi has once again raised the banner of revolt against the `proxy system’ prevailing in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). In a scathing attack on the present set of DDCA administrators, the former India skipper called upon all cricketers to take “a silent pledge to work together to destroy the proxy system.”

Bedi, who is a candidate for the post of president of the DDCA elections to which are being held on Monday, told newsmen here last night that “it was a battle between proxy and performance.” Acknowledging that he was “fighting a losing battle” as he had “no proxies except my own,” the legendary left-arm spinner accused the present administrators of destroying the game for their own personal interests. “I have more first-class wickets than the number of proxies I can ever collect,” he said sarcastically.

“They are indulging in muscle power. People in the DDCA are showing guns and getting their boys selected in various teams, including Under-16, 19 and even Ranji Trophy,” he lamented.

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Recalling his earlier `battle’ against the Ram Prakash Mehra regime during the late ’70s and early ’80s, Bedi said: “By their ill-deeds, the present administrators have proved that R P Mehra was an angel.” “We are much mellowed and humble now than when we (his supporters) took over the administration for the first time in the early ’80s,” he stressed.

“If Mumbai cricket is flourishing, it is because there is a complete cricket atmosphere at the CCI, unlike here at the Kotla where no official talks about the game or the players,” he added, stressing that cricketers must be given an equal share of responsibility to run the association.