Jadeja blames cricketers for Delhi administration

Ajay Jadeja, the former India batsman and captain of Delhi for two seasons, has backed Virender Sehwag in his criticism of the state's cricket administration but said players are to blame for the dismal situation that exists today.

"We need to look within ourselves," Jadeja was quoted as saying in the Hindu. "If we [cricketers] don't go begging for small favours from the administrators such situations would not arise at all. Can you have any selection in India without the involvement of a player? The selection committee is made up of former players only and if they don't do their job properly, who do you blame? This sports committee is elected by cricketers only. Why don't they send honest cricketers to do the job?"

Earlier this week Sehwag was reported to be seeking a move to Haryana because of interference in selection matters. Other senior Delhi players backed Sehwag's claims about the lack of transperancy in Delhi and Districts Cricket Association's selection procedures.

Jadeja played age-group cricket for Delhi before moving to Haryana in 1988. He returned to Delhi in 2003-04 and shifted to Rajasthan in 2005-06. Jadeja said he was pressured by the selectors when he was the Delhi captain. "I had anticipated these interferences. But I did not budge. I attended only the first selection committee meeting as a captain. Thereafter, they chose the 15 and I picked the playing XI."

Jadeja's solution for a more transparent system was to have one selector make the picks based on suggestions by scouts. "You can fix accountability instead of involving too many cricketers in the selection committee."