Former India cricketer and Delhi selector Amit Bhandari attacked by goons

Monday was just a normal functioning morning for former India cricketer and the chairman of Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) senior selection committee Amit Bhandari. He was present at the Delhi Under-23 team’s trials held at St Stephen’s ground until beaten up by an unidentified group of men.

Bhandari was severely attacked and has sustained injuries on the head and ear, the goons soon after fled the spot. His associate Sukhvinder Singh who was present there rushed him to Sant Paramanand Hospital at Civil Lines for treatment. DDCA president and a renowned journalist Rajat Sharma said that they are trying to get details of the incident and will make sure those involved are prosecuted.

DDCA takes a firm stand

“We are trying to procure all details of the incident. As far as I have come to know, it is regarding one disgruntled player, who didn’t make it to the probables list for the National U-23 tournament.

“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 was quoted as saying on India Today.

Team manager narrates the incident

Shankar Saini, the manager of Delhi’s senior and U-23 team was present at the spot and witnessed the attack. He said that while he was having lunch along with another colleague Bhandari was out there watching the trials. That’s when a couple of men approached Bhandari and had a heated exchange. They left from the spot and arrived with 15 men who had all sorts of tools with them hocky sticks, rods etc and the assault happened.

“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 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.

It was not that no one tried to help Bhandari but they were threatened to be shot. “When the other boys 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 hit Bhandari with hockey sticks and rods and he sustained head injury,” he added.

Get the latest Cricket News and updates, Match Predictions, Fantasy Cricket Tips and lots more on CricTracker.com.