Ranji Trophy team assistant coach alleges slapping by superior, probe ordered

An assistant coach of Chandigarh Ranji Trophy team has accused his superior of slapping and humiliating him during the team’s recent tour to Indore for their third match against Madhya Pradesh.

The incident reportedly occurred in full public view at a restaurant on November 3. The complaint has been filed with the Union Territory Cricket Association (UTCA) and an inquiry has been marked into it. “We have received the complaint (in this regard). The team is yet to arrive back (to Chandigarh), and the matter will be investigated thereafter,” confirmed Hari Singh Khurana, general secretary, UTCA.

Notably, both coaches had been together on many tours of Chandigarh teams. The complaint has been made against a former decorated Himachal Pradesh player and coach of Chandigarh men’s senior team.

In his complaint, Sandeep Arora, the assistant coach, stated: “I am writing to you about the continuous misbehaviour of head coach Rajeev Nayyar towards me. He has been humiliating me in front of the support staff and players from Day 1. However, the situation went beyond acceptable limits on November 3, when all staff and players were sitting together on the dinner table. While I was discussing the next day’s plans, Nayyar suddenly slapped me in front of everyone present at the restaurant. Although I could have reacted, I chose to remain silent out of respect for our association and to avoid creating any unpleasant scene.”