The Team India openers are ready to take guard — this time seeking a fresh start for Delhi cricket. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir will meet DDCA president Arun Jaitley and secretary Sneh Bansal on Tuesday morning to discuss measures to bring transparency in selection policies and the functioning of the state association.

The meeting, which will be held at Jaitley’s residence, will determine whether Sehwag and his India team mates will stay with the state team for the coming season. Sehwag had threatened to quit Delhi, citing nepotism and malpractices. Gambhir, Ashish Nehra and Ishant Sharma have backed their skipper over the issue and threatened to follow suit.

According to sources, Sehwag has also sought advice from current and former Delhi players and over the weekend, he will hold a discussion with Gambhir to prepare a blueprint for the final presentation. One of the major demands from the players, apart from forming a cricket committee, is to revamp the selection committee.

Criterion for selectors?

The players are likely to insist on a fixed criterion for selectors that will make only former India players eligible to sit on the Ranji selection committee. They also want selectors for other age-group committees to be at least former first-class cricketers, who have played a certain number of matches. It’s also learnt that the players are likely to demand that club secretaries and DDCA office bearers not be appointed either selector or coach of any state side.

Another demand is a qualifying mark in terms of runs scored and wickets taken by a player in order to be considered for any state side. They also want more importance accorded to club cricket and have the Ranji team supply line ready by playing more three-day matches.

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