Constitution of historic CAC an extraordinary step
*Appoints staff, holds interviews for selectors
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 22: After the nomination of strong three-member Sub Committee by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to run the affairs of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) on the directions of J&K High Court, the things are changing thick and fast in Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) and one gets a feeling that no stone is being left unturned to prioritize professionalism, promote cricket culture, streamline the jaundiced system and deal with the players and officials on the basis of merit in otherwise fractured and unhealthy Association.
The Sub-Committee has constituted a much awaited Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), the constitution of which is unquestionably an extraordinary step in the history of JKCA. What is more appreciable is the fact that the CAC is the amalgam of three former J&K cricketers of great repute including Ashwani Gupta, Abdul Qayoom and Roopali Slathia.
According to the reliable sources, commercialism is getting the back seat and professionalism is gaining momentum in the scheme of things of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association.
Calling of interviews by the Cricket Advisory Committee for the posts of selectors, coaches, trainers, physiotherapists and managers is undoubtedly a great step towards professionalism and a welcome step in running the JKCA affairs in a befitting manner.
Sources said the Cricket Advisory Committee appointed by the BCCI’s Sub Committee held the interviews of the candidates on the other day who had applied for the posts of selectors, adding what was amazing to know was that the candidates included nine top cricketers of the Union Territory and the interviewers, everyone knows, need no introduction in cricketing field.
“This speaks volumes about running the affairs of JKCA,” sources added.
Earlier, there was a trend, a practice, a custom or you may call it a system that JKCA used to nominate selectors which simply involved favouritism and even nepotism and now the selectors and support staff of the teams are being selected not nominated, which is utterly a professional way of dealing things. For that matter, the trio of Brig Anil Gupta, Advocate Sunil Sethi and especially cricketer Mithun Manhas deserve appreciation rather salutation for setting an example.
Experts believe that this professional way of appointing selectors and support staff will surely serve a twin purpose-one it will infuse confidence in them-second it will make them answerable to the Administrators.
“Appointment after proper examination and interview is always an energy booster for a candidate,” reckoned expert.
“Facing an interview for selection smacks an amazing feeling as we are observing it for the first time in the history of JKCA. We were hardly used to this custom. The process will make us more fair in picking the teams as the system is certainly going to inculcate self esteem among all of us. Thanks to Sub Committee members,” said one of the candidates who faced interview for the post of selector.
He said there is a hell of difference in being nominated and being selected.
He further said that what is more appealing is the fact that the interviewing panel (CAC) possessed lot of wisdom and experience, adding that working in such an atmosphere is always delightful.
“Being nominated for any assignment carries a good taste, however, being selected via professional system for the same is immensely satisfying. Selecting players is everybody’s cup of tea but picking them on merit and skill, needs knowledge and wisdom. Expecting good show by the blue-eyed selectors is to cry for the moon. So, hats off to the Sub Committee members who have mastery in administrative, legal and cricketing affairs for streamlining the system and infusing professionalism among all the players and officials,” said another candidate.
Sources said that the Sub-Committee soon after taking the charge of JKCA affairs appointed the requisite staff to make the wealthy JKCA healthy too as the induction of the newly appointed staff has served a twin purpose of making an end to the monopoly of the already existing clerical staff and at the same time decreasing their workload, otherwise, the clerical staff used to rule the roost in the scheme of things in JKCA by indulging in the job of selectors, officials, groundsmen and what and what not.
Meanwhile, it is for the first time in the history of JKCA that Jammu also works as the headquarter of the Association, otherwise as per the precedence only Srinagar was working as the headquarter of the Association. The credit of establishing Jammu as the headquarter goes to the members of BCCI’s Sub-Committee.
No-doubt, the Sub-Committee has started the campaign with a bang, yet the need is to deliver the things in the same professional way throughout the season. It will be interesting to observe the selection process after good number of trial matches by following SOPs amid Covid pandemic.
The way the things are going, one has big expectations on the present quorum.
Let’s hope everything goes well this season and the seasons to come.