Game’s Over: DDCA Bans Cricketer Anuj Dedha, Whose Thugs Assaulted Selector Amit Bhandari, For Life

The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has banned cricketer Anuj Dedha for life after he along with his friends assaulted former Indian bowler and current chairman of selectors for Delhi Amit Bhandari, the New Indian Express reports.

The incident happened on Monday (11 February), after Anuj was not selected in the Delhi U-23 team. Former Indian opener Gautam Gambir, a DDCA apex council member, had suggested the life ban on Dedha in a meeting with DDCA president Rajat Sharma and other selectors.

“Anuj Dedha will be banned for life, and the decision was taken at a meeting which was also attended by the selectors and Gautam Gambhir, who is a member of the apex council. We will get the recommendation ratified at a general body meeting,” PTI quoted DDCA president Rajat Sharma as saying.

From now on, Dedha would not be allowed to play in any club game or any DDCA affiliated tournament, Sharma said while adding that Gambir had suggested a life ban. Gambir also indicated that no family or friends would be allowed to watch the trials and only U-14 and U-16 players will be allowed inside the stadium premises, the DDCA president added.

Speaking on the decision of excluding Dedha, Sharma said, “He took two wickets in a trial game, and his scalps were Manjot Kalra (India U-19 WC star) and Jonty Sidhu (current Ranji player), two well-known players. That’s how he made it to the top 50, but all the three selectors said that at no point was he given any assurance of being selected in the final 15.”