Unmukt Chand may be better off thinking of promotion to the senior Indian team rather than getting one to his next year in college.
The Under-19 captain, who led his team to the World Cup with a brilliant century has failed to attain the minimum attendance standards required by the St Stephen’s College (New Delhi) to be promoted.
Valson Thampu, principal of the college was quoted in a DNA report as saying: ”There is no way he can be promoted. The rules don’t permit that. We’ve not detained him. Unmukt detained himself.”
Unmukt has failed to accumulate the minimum attendance required by the St Stephen’s College to be promoted. Getty Images
Unmukt was admitted in the college under the sports quota, but his academic record isn’t that bad. He scored 80% in 10th standard and 74% in 12th. But cricket has kept the Arts student out of class.
Earlier in May, he wasn’t allowed to give his second semester exam until the Delhi high court intervened. He eventually gave the exam and scored 62%.
Even though the principal says that there is no hope for Unmukt, the batsman’s lawyer Vikas Gupta sounded more optimistic: “He has been attending the pre-fixed programmes of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA). The schedules of all tournaments were decided much in advance and the college is aware of the schedule. After accepting him through the sports quota, how can the college insist on attendance?”
In a press conference yesterday, Unmukt said: “I shouldn’t sit here and say that the college should change its rules just because we have won the Under-19 World Cup. They have helped me a lot in the past. I have been in touch with the sports teacher and Principal. I hope things are sorted out.”
You can read the full DNA Report here.
