Former India pacer and DDCA selector Amit Bhandari assaulted, beaten up at U-23 state trials

Amit Bhandari, chairman of the DDCA senior selection committee, was on Monday assaulted by a group of unidentified men during the Under-23 team’s trials at St Stephen’s ground.

Bhandari sustained head and ear injuries and was taken to Sant Paramanand Hospital at Civil Lines. The goons fled the spot before the police could reach. 

"We are looking into the matter and a case will be registered after recording the statement of the victim," Nupur Prasad, Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) said.

Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rajat Sharma told PTI that guilty will not be spared.

Delhi: DDCA chairperson Amit Bhandari attacked during Under-23 team's trials at St Stephen's ground;DCP North N Prasad says,"We got info that one rejected candidate came to Amit Bhandari asking why he didn't get selected,& then hit him with stick & hands. Bhandari is in hospital" pic.twitter.com/93piUJF64Q

— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2019

Delhi&District Cricket Association chairperson Amit Bhandari on being attacked by a rejected candidate during Under-23 team's trials at St Stephen's ground in Delhi: I've given my statement to the police. I've given them the reason of selection & the names (of attackers) as well pic.twitter.com/2PEWEoodeQ

— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2019

"The SHO from the local police station has reached the Stephen's ground and I have personally spoken to the Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik. The guilty will not go unpunished. I promise exemplary action against whoever is found involved in this misdeed. We will register an FIR," Sharma said.

Sharma, who went to meet Bhandari at the hospital said: "He is very shaken and it is natural. The doctors have advised that he should be kept under observation for 24 hours as a precautionary measure."

"The goons were pressurising him to select aplayer, who had failed to get into the U-23 team on merit. Amit claimed that the one man also threatened him with a revolver." Delhi's senior team manager Shankar Saini narrated the incident.

"I was having my meal along with a colleague inside the tent and Bhandari along with other selectors and senior team coach Mithun Manhas was watching the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy probables play a trial match."

"A couple of men first came and went up to Bhandari. There were heated exchanges between Bhandari and the two men. They left and before we could gather our thoughts, suddenly some 15 men armed with hockey sticks, rods and cycle chains came charging," Saini said.

"When the other senior team players attending the trials along with us rushed to save Bhandari, they started threatening us and one of them said, "Don't get into this or else we will shoot you." "They attacked Bhandari with hockey sticks and rods and he sustained head injury," the former Delhi seamer added.

When asked who could be behind the attack, Saini said, "I was not there when these two guys came and spoke with Bhandari. He is obviously rattled and once he gives his statement to the police, we will get to know more."

Delhi cricket has always been mired in corruption charges and allegations of dubious selections at the various age-group levels have also surfaced time and again.