Decks were cleared for the Vinod Tihara-led sports committee to return to the helm of affairs unopposed for another term, with four candidates withdrawing their candidature on the last day of withdrawal for the sports committee election.

Ashok Sharma (Ravi Brothers CC), Devender Chaudhary (Citizen CC), Ajit Singh Madhok (Tilak Nagar Colts) and Arun Kumar Mahajan (Oriental Bank of Commerce), all backed out by the stipulated time of 2 pm on Tuesday. The committee members will be declared winners unopposed on Thursday.

As news of withdrawals passed around, the members who have been targeted by Virender Sehwag and other leading Delhi players, including Gautam Gambhir, Ashish Nehra and Ishant Sharma for their alleged interference in selection matters — began exchanging congratulatory notes.

Whatever may be the objection, the fact remains the same group, whose disbandment is a major demand of the revolting players, has returned in full strength shows where the real power lies in the DDCA — and for them the result was only a formality of sorts.

Vinod Tihara, whose son’s selection for the Ranji Trophy squad was another sticky point in the ongoing tussle, swept the revolt aside, saying they have been voted for the work they have done. “One can find fault with a few guys but not the entire committee. We have been elected unopposed by the club secretaries, which says a lot about the work we have done. We have won on the basis of what we have been doing here,” he said. On the players revolt he said: “These players should realise they are playing for India only after playing for the same clubs whose secretaries have voted for us.”

... contd.