National Selector Devang Gandhi Ousted From Bengal Dressing Room After Manoj Tiwary's Complaint

Bengal’s ongoing Ranji Trophy campaign has been marred by yet another controversy. Earlier this week, they had to drop their senior pacer Ashok Dinda from the squad after he allegedly abused bowling coach Ranadeb Bose. The coach had later lodged a formal complaint to Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and Dinda was asked to apologise.

However, Ashok Dinda did not apologise and was subsequently dropped from the squad. In the latest turn of events, BCCI national selector Devang Gandhi was ejected from the Bengal dressing room  on Thursday for unauthorised entry at the Eden Gardens on Day 2 of the ongoing Ranji Trophy match between Bengal and Andhra.

Devang Gandhi, who is the national selector from East Zone, was ejected by Soumen Karmakar, BCCI anti-corruption official deputed for the match. The incident took place after senior players of Bengal raised a question about the anti-corruption protocol which specifies only players and team support-staff selected for the match can be present in the dressing room.

“We have to follow what is contained in the anti-corruption protocol. A national selector cannot get in the dressing room without authorization,” former captain Manoj Tiwary told the reporters.

“Only the players and officials who have their mug-shots at the entrance can get access in the dressing room,” he added.

Manoj Tiwary the complainant:

According to India Today, Manoj Tiwary was the player who first raised the alarm over Devang Gandhi’s presence in the dressing room. The anti-corruption official then acted swiftly and asked Devang Gandhi to leave the dressing room.

“Devang Gandhi was asked to leave the Bengal dressing room by the anti-corruption official after Manoj Tiwary’s complaint.

“According to Tiwary, Devang had gone to the dressing room to get in touch with the Bengal physio for some treatment. This, he said, amounts to violation of law and as soon as he reported the matter to the anti-corruption official, Devang was asked to leave. Devang’s version is that he was at the medical room and had called the physio there,” a source said.

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