New Delhi, Aug. 25: The week-long stand-off between Virender Sehwag and the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association came to an end on Tuesday, with the DDCA bowing to their skipper’s demands for fairness in selection process following a meeting with Association president Arun Jaitley on Monday night.

Yet, nothing much else has changed. Even though Sehwag will stay put at Delhi, the powers of the contentious sports committee remain untouched. The committee, which Sehwag alleged was one of the reasons for the poor state of affairs in Delhi cricket, will continue to nominate their members to the selection committee which will then be approved by the executive committee.

Jaitley denied allegations of interference by the sports committee but assured that the selection process would be made more transparent after meeting Sehwag and his opening partner Gautam Gambhir on Monday.

"Steps are required to ensure that the selection process is fair and without interference. The players’ suggestions were well-intentioned and have been taken into consideration by the DDCA," Jaitley told the media at the Ferozeshah Kotla on Tuesday.

"We will bring in more experienced selectors with strong ethics and intergrity. They will be fair as well as firm in their decision," he added.

But in the past, the selectors have alleged pressure from the sports committee as well as parents and relatives of some cricketers. The DDCA’s government nominee Vibhakar Shastri assured that the new selectors would not bow to pressure tactics.

"It is because of the pressures on the Delhi selectors, the need for players with strong moral fibre arises. If a selector is mentally strong, he is bound to take the right decisions in all situations," Shastri told this newspaper.

The DDCA president also hinted that the size of the selection panel might be trimmed. "There were suggestions by the players that the the selection committee be reduced and it has found favour amongst all the senior DDCA officials.

"We’ll also request the senior selectors to extend their role to junior cricket as well. While most of the Ranji cricketers select themselves, it is junior cricket that needs cleaning up," Jaitley said.

On the formation of a new cricket committee, Jaitley said, "We’ll constitute a new cricket advisory body with very senior and experienced players. We are exploring the idea and still deciding on what its functions will be. After that we’ll start the process of short-listing individuals." Jaitley hoped former India captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, who also attended the meeting on Monday night, would be able to head the committee.

"I’ll really appreciate it if Pataudi can spare some time. We’re waiting for his reply," he said.

Meanwhile, on former cricketer Kirti Azad’s tirade against the DDCA, Jaitley said, "Azad has made some serious allegations and he needs to substantiate them. We are going to conduct a thorough investigation about it. But if he can’t, it is his credibility that is at stake."

The DDCA has managed to weather the storm for the time being. But any rapid improvements in the sorry state of Delhi cricket still looks unlikely.