*Selector has never represented State in Ranji trophy
Rajesh Dhar
JAMMU, Nov 2: Though the jaundiced Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) selected the Ranji Trophy team for the first three 4-day matches just five days before the commencement of the tournament yesterday, yet the 15-member squad was picked amid controversy and storm, forcing one of the selectors to put a ‘Dissent Note’ on the selection list.
Sources said that selection process was objectionable from the word go, adding, on the one hand, some matches as formality were organized in Kashmir province by JKCA before picking the probables, and on the other hand, no matches rather ‘No play’ was the mantra of picking the probables in Jammu province to make way for blue-eyed, friends and favourites from the clubs owned by the administrators.
Sources added that to favour their friends and favourites including Mohsin Iqbal, son of Mehboob Iqbal, former bureaucrat and former chairman JKCA, who happens to be the convener of present JKCA Provincial Committee, the administrators did not organize matches to serve their cause.
Mohsin and some other players are making comeback in the team after 6 years, without any recognized performance, sources said.
Earlier, after hurriedly picking 25 probables from Jammu for the final selection, the Association yielding to pressure from various quarters, added 15 more cricketers to the probable list, without a proper system.
The height of things is that one of the senior selectors from Jammu, who has never represented Jammu and Kashmir in Ranji trophy, is calling the shots and making his presence felt by picking the players of his choice, least caring about the talented players of other clubs.
“It is the club politics which mars the cricketing talent in Jammu and Kashmir. Whoever, becomes an administrator or a selector, enjoys the luxury of picking the players of his own clubs. It has been a custom in the past and is at its peak presently. Playing in JKCA without anybody’s patronage is to cry for the moon,” expressed a bunch of former and current Ranji trophy players on the condition of anonymity .
This process of selection has not only ignored the players like Abid Nabi and Vimarsh Kaw, who have been in supreme touch throughout this season at domestic circuit, but also the youngsters like Rohit Sharma, Omar Nazir, Paras Sharma and Ahmed Banday etc.
Sources said that JKCA in 2008 had autocratically announced retirement of some cricketers including Vijay Sharma, former Ranji trophy skipper, Arshid Bhat, Irshad and Fayaz Hazare, but it were a few left in the lurch, while the others were selected in the next season, which portraits picture of the scheme of things in JKCA.
“I put a dissent note on the select list as the team picked for Ranji trophy included some blue-eyed players and failed to make way for the youngsters. It were the four other selectors, who united because of club politics to nullify my intentions,” said Ranji trophy selector, Shahid Parvez while talking to EXCELSIOR.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Manzoor Wazir, treasurer JKCA said though he is not the part of selection process, yet he is not satisfied with Shahid’s displeasure as the player for whose selection he felt anguished was picked by him in the probables list from Jammu.
Ranjeet Kalra, member BCCI and chairman JKCA Media Committee said “No doubt many talented players have been ignored, yet selection being the technical affair it would not be prudent to question selectors wisdom. Neverthless, I will surely convey the sentiments of the players to the president JKCA.”
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