Out of favour for long, Mongia back as selector

Chandigarh, October 14
Dinesh Mongia is back in the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) fold after being inducted as a member of the senior selection committee headed by chairman Yashpal Sharma.
Mongia, representing Chandigarh district as a selector, will be judging the fate of the Punjab players, starting from their match against Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy at PCA Stadium in Mohali, said PCA officials.
The 40-year-old Mongia made a surprise comeback to PCA 10 years after quitting the state body to join the now-defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2007. He was charged with match-fixing while playing for Chandigarh Lions in ICL and was suspended by the unsanctioned league in October 2008.
His former teammate Lou Vincent, who had a long career for New Zealand, named him and Chris Cairns in a London court in 2015. Mongia, though, denied any involvement in match-fixing.
Interestingly, Mongia in August this year had pleaded with BCCI (and PCA) for amnesty and monetary dues. PCA secretary RP Singla said, “I am not aware of any pending dues. If there are any pending dues they will be cleared tomorrow morning. As far as amnesty is concerned it is for BCCI to decide. PCA has no issues with him. He is very keen to play the role of a selector in this domestic season.”
The left-handed batsman last played for India in an ODI against Bangladesh at Dhaka in May 2007.
The other members of the selection committee are Manish Sharma, Sameer Mehra and Balbir Singh. Meanwhile, PCA will hold a selection committee meeting on October 17 to select the squad for the next Ranji Trophy matches.