DDCA selection controversy: Unknown pacer Beniwal forced into Delhi Ranji squad

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Ranji Trophy team selection raised eyebrows on Monday after unknown pace bowler Ankit Beniwal was included in the 15-member squad for the crucial match against Gujarat, starting from Tuesday.

Beniwal, despite opposition from some section, was sent as a net bowler for the Bengal game though his bowling speed is in the range of just 110-115 kmph.

This is when Delhi, placed ninth in cross-pool (A and B) with 16 points, are desperate for three points to improve their position. Only top-five will make the quarterfinals from both the two Groups.

Gujarat (26 points) are second in the table and all but through to quarter-finals. Their skipper Parthiv Patel is unlikely to play this game. The DDCA brass has indicated that a tainted former BCCI Vice President and his younger brother, who is now a top DDCA office bearer, have forced the selection committee to pick Beniwal. "DDCA senior selection committee chairman Bantoo Singh and his colleague Anil Bhardwaj were party to this questionable decision. Nobody knows the credentials of this fellow. How has he made it or how many wickets he has taken. But we all know that the two brothers are pushing for inclusion of this guy," a senior DDCA officebearer, present during the selection meeting, said on condition of anonymity.

"The two brothers have been trying hard to keep this Beniwal fellow in the squad even if he doesn't play a game. I don't know why. We have to keep players like all-rounder Subodh Bhati and pacer Pawan Suyal out of the team," the official said.

"It's not selectors alone, who picked Beniwal. It was a collective decision (of officials and selectors). Blaming selectors all the time is not right. We pick a lot of boys on merit but no one then praises the selectors. This guy has been a net bowler and with Subodh Bhati not performing, we thought of giving him a chance," he said.

The selection panel head Bantoo defended the decision