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Journalism of Courage
The controversy over the induction of Ajay Jadeja in the Delhi Ranji Trophy squad took its toll on a group of innocents today. Protesting against ‘outsiders’ representing Delhi at the cost of its own players, members of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) sports committee made members of the Delhi Under-15 team wear black armbands in a match at the Jamia Millia Islamia University ground today.
Senior officials of the DDCA were present at the ground; while they condemned the action, not one moved to stop it.
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No official stepped in to stop this
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The committee members, led by convenor Ashok Sharma, also wore black armbands and raised slogans against the DDCA president, selectors and office-bearers for their decision to include ‘outsiders’ without their being consulted.
Team coach Maninder Pal Singh — who refused to wear the armband — said senior officials, led by Sharma, asked the boys to wear the bands. ‘‘How can they refuse’’, he added.
One of the cricketers told this reporter, on condition of anonymity, that they were initially told that the armbands were as a mark of respect to former India cricketer Hemu Adhikari, who died over the weekend. They were later told the real reason.
Sharma, who appeared unaware of the breach of propriety, said the young cricketers were brought into the protest because their future was at stake. ‘‘Last year, it was Sarandeep Singh. Now it is Jadeja. If the selectors continue to bring outsiders, where will our young cricketers go? They are the ones to suffer the most.’’
Chetan Chauhan, chairman of the selection committee, and who’d earlier objected to recruiting Jadeja, criticised today’s events. ‘‘The sports committee cannot dictate terms’’, he said.
‘‘This protest is totally unwarranted’’, said Surender Khanna, a selector who was present at the Under-15 match.
And DDCA sports secretary Sunil Dev, also present at the Jamia ground, echoed him: ‘‘These cricketers should not be dragged into politics at such a tender age. They should keep them away from it all,’’ he added.
However, neither intervened while the armbands were being put on.
Jadeja, when contacted, was typically blase about the incidents. ‘‘The protests are an inside matter. I’m not concerned about what is happening outside the ground. All the players have welcomed me and are supporting me. That is more important’’, he said.
The DDCA’s executive committee, consisting of the president, three vice-presidents, general secretary, sports secretary and joint secretary, is scheduled to meet on Tuesday evening with the ‘protestors.’
But it appears unlikely that the issue of children being dragged into the politics of their elders will figure. ‘‘Their (committee’s) protest has no meaning, but we are open to suggestions,’’ said joint secretary Sunil Khanna.
