Why overhaul a winning unit?

While Arun Jaitley8217;s elevation as BCCI vice-president is great news, there8217;s an emergent need for the DDCA president to have a re-look at the cricketing affairs in his own backyard.

First up, the complete lack of recognition to the senior selection committee that picked a champion side last season is appalling. This despite a fervent plea by Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir in person to the DDCA top brass to retain the same set for sake of continuity.

Instead, the sports committee removed two selectors Vinay Lamba and Vivek Razdan, demoted Manu Nayyar to under-22 and appointed three fresh selectors in their place. That the three new appointments were previously relieved of their duties midway by Jaitley is all the more intriguing, so is the lack of initiative or intent on the executive committee8217;s behalf to overturn arbitrary decisions.

In its very first meeting, the new selection committee spotted a 8216;fault8217; at the top of the team list, and 8216;corrected8217; it by replacing existing skipper Mithun Manhas with Aakash Chopra. While the decision to sack Manhas 8212; who has stood in for Sehwag, when the regular captain and his deputy Gambhir are with the Indian team 8212; has spread acrimony within the senior players, it has also sent out wrong signals as well.

Chairman of selector Chetan Chauhan, however, insists that the decision to appoint Chopra was unanimous. 8220;We wanted someone with Test experience as a skipper. Besides, everyone thought Chopra is having a great season and this responsibility can pep him up further. So when the question to appoint a stand-by skipper in absence of Sehwag cropped up, everyone immediately agreed on Chopra8217;s name,8221; he says.

However, the insiders say Manhas8217;s removal was handwork of sports committee. Manhas has a good track record as skipper leading Delhi and North Zone and had refused interference in team selection. That went against him.

8220;If they think Chopra will agree to certain players being picked, they are mistaken. No player would like to undo his reputation including undeserving players. Chopra will have our backing, no doubt, but again the manner in which seniors are treated, even after winning, is humiliating,8221; says a senior player.

Coach Vijay Dahiya says the change in command will not affect the morale of the team. 8220;I would say a new set up has come and there8217;s a change of thought. And the change of skipper is just a reflection of that. The team will still be together, I don8217;t think it will affect the players in any way. Our path this year will be just the same as last year,8221; he says.

That Delhi are the defending champions should provide a perfect platform to rectify all wrongs, but it8217;s being used by some as cushion to reduce the impact of their misdeeds.