Gautam Gambhir reacts to attack on Amit Bhandari

Gautam Gambhir has expressed his anger over the assault on former India pacer Amit Bhandari by goons. Bhandari, chairman of the senior selection committee in DDCA, was attacked during the Under-23 trials at St. Stephen's Ground in Delhi on Monday.

“Disgusted to see this happen right in the heart of the Capital. This can’t slip under the carpet and I will personally ensure it doesn’t. To begin with I am calling for a life ban from all cricket for the player who orchestrated this attack post his non-selection,” Gambhir tweeted.

Virender Sehwag also called for strict action to be taken against the accused. “The attack on Delhi selector Amit Bhandari for not picking a player is a new low and I am hopeful that stringent action will be taken against the culprit and adequate measures will be taken to avoid such incidents,” Sehwag tweeted.

Bhandari was attacked by a group of men led by a player named Anuj Dheda, who was not selected to the state team. Dheda came to the senior team's practice game for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and demanded to know why he was omitted. In response, Bhandari said that the players were selected based on merit. Following this, Bhandari was assaulted by the group. He sustained injuries to his head, legs and arms.

Delhi and District Cricket Association president Rajat Sharma, who went to meet Bhandari at the hospital, said that strict action will be taken against those found guilty. He said that Bhandari is out of danger and under observation. He added that he has asked police officers to take action against those who “tried to take the life of an honest selector who was just doing his job with sincerity”.

Anuj Dheda and his brother were later arrested after a complaint was registered with the police.

(With inputs from PTI)