It’s not a match score, but the dressing room in Delhi is rattling. Amit Grover, the DDCA joint secretary, didn’t mince words in a Friday email to the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC). He’s formally stalling the appointments of Manu Nayyar and Varun Sood, arguing they might not meet the rulebook’s requirements. This isn’t a petty squabble. It’s a procedural jam that could delay the entire setup for the upcoming season.
The names matter. Nayyar is slated to be the senior men’s selector, while Sood is set to be the U-19 assistant coach. Grover claims these roles demand strict compliance with eligibility standards, suggesting the committee hasn’t done its homework. The friction isn’t new, either. Nayyar’s availability has been a headache before, with reports of him missing key selection windows due to overseas league commitments. That history is still fresh in the minds of those watching the operation.
The DDCA brass isn’t backing down. A recipient of Grover’s email pushed back hard, calling the objections "needless." They argue that everyone appointed has played at the highest level and knows the game. Sood, having just retired, is seen as a bridge to modern cricket tactics. Nayyar, they say, is simply finishing his term. The administration insists the rules were followed diligently and that these are merit-based choices, not political ones.
But Grover isn’t buying it. He’s pressing the CAC to pause and verify the records before finalizing anything. He also flagged the selection panel composition, noting it looks suspiciously similar to last year’s group. With Delhi’s recent performances taking a beating, he’s urging the committee to look beyond continuity and scrutinize experience and overall requirements. The ball is now in the CAC’s court. If they ignore the query, the protest will likely move from email threads to public forums.
DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma hasn’t responded to multiple requests for comment. Meanwhile, the broader appointments list is already out, with 22 coaches and 18 women’s team staff named, including former India wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya as Ranji head coach. The system is moving forward, but the legal and eligibility questions are now officially on the record. The CAC has to make a call before the ink dries.