Blatant favoritism and floundering of rules and procedures have brought disrepute to the selection process of JKCA and cast aspersions on selectors who were to select the State cricket team to participate in Ranji Trophy. Though in Kashmir, provincial probables did play a few matches before the selection was finalized, yet in the case of Jammu, there has been no pragmatic selection. Jammu branch of JKCA is dominated by club politics, and the selectors try to bring in by hook or by crook their blue eyed boys who are members of respective clubs even if they do not qualify to be in the team. Having selected 25 probables from Jammu region, the selectors added another 15 later on only to find space for their favourites. How can one who has never represented Jammu and Kashmir in Ranji Trophy dominate the discussion and thrust his opinion and will on other members? The fact that one member on the selection committee has sent in a note of dissent speaks loudly that everything is not fair in the selection committee. The reasons given by the dissenter were that genuine candidates were ignored and favourites were picked up. In this way younger boys have been denied the chance of displaying their merit. The second reason he gave was that other members ganged up in recommending players who have been playing in their respective club teams.
This matter should be looked from the prism of national sports. Favouritism has been the bane of our country’s sports selection committees. They fail to understand that by denying a genuine youth the chance of showing his mettle, we are doing a great disservice to our nation. After all great cricketers come from a proper selection at every step of the cricket hierarchy. The Chairman of JKCA and also the Chairman of the Indian Cricket Board should take cognizance of the complaints made by genuine cricketers and clear the mess in the organization.
Follow our WhatsApp channel