Dalmiya sorry for Sehwag

Board of Control for Cricket in India president Jagmohan Dalmiya promised financial compensation to Virender Sehwag, who has been dropped from the Indian team for the Mohali Test against England as per the agreement between the BCCI and ICC.

"He is a young boy. I feel sorry for him," Dalmiya told a media conference in Calcutta after announcing the terms of the agreement which resolved the crisis threatening world cricket.

Dalmiya said the BCCI had agreed to instruct its selection panel not to include Sehwag in the final 12 for the first Test against England, beginning on Monday.

Describing Sehwag as a 'budding cricketer, who is a future hope for the country', Dalmiya said: "He will be financially compensated. But whether the compensation will be provided by the ICC or BCCI would be decided by the ICC Executive Board."

Dalmiya also promised 'adequate opportunities' for Sehwag saying "he will be back in the team".

However, he hastened to add that he is not the right person to judge the merit of any cricketer as that was the job of the selectors.

Dalmiya also said he would discuss with skipper Sourav Ganguly his grievances at not being consulted on the selection of the Indian team for the Mohali Test.

"I am not aware of his grievances. But I'll find out from the captain what he is saying on the issue," Dalmiya said.

Dalmiya's comments followed Ganguly's 'unhappiness and anger' at not being consulted by the selection committee when they met at Jaipur to finalise the squad for the opening Test against England.

The BCCI chief said that there is a provision that the captain should be consulted by the selection committee before deciding on the compositon of the team.

"Yes. there is a provision that the captain should be consulted. I don't know what happened. The secretary (of BCCI Niranjan Shah) was in Jaipur."

Mail Cricket Editor