While the apex cricket governing body of India, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is taking every step to make selection and other decisions related to cricket transparent while in Kashmir, J&K Cricket Association (JKCA) has messed it up in terms of selection, camps and training.
The non transparent way of doing selection has led to one of the biggest humiliation that J&K cricket has ever faced as BCCI stopped Under-23 match between J&K and Goa at Andra Pradesh only after 13-overs of play. The reason was the J&K High Court stayed selection.
“JKCA officially never announced the team and deputed it for nationals just two days before match. Meanwhile they thought in court stay, JKCA is party and not the BCCI which is sponsoring the team. They missed the minute details of legal process,” said JKCA official.
“If the officials who are currently holding charge would have announced the team 15-days before, this situation could have been avoided. But current process lacks transparency. They are keeping selection as secret as they can. Selectors hand over list to officials who in turn keep it secret instead of making an open announcement. Same was done in Under-19 and Ranji selection. Officially no team was announced in public and it was through sources it got in public,” he added.
Another JKCA official wishing anonymity said it is because of few officials in JKCA who for their personal benefits are not allowing selection to be transparent.
“The norm is that team selection process start well in advance. The team is announced atleast 15 to20 days before their national match. Then coaching camps are followed. Meanwhile if any legal hurdle or other problem arises that can be dealt properly. But here the case is different team were never officials announced. The selection process that lacks transparency was completed just one day before events,” he said.
“JKCA is likely to give excuse that they had no money to depute teams. But it was not about deputing teams. That was later case. They should have started their preparations ready and should have followed clear transparent way,” he added.
Former JKCA Chairman and Ranji Cricketer Mehboob Iqbal said that the current officials are not interested in cricket and only hanging to their chairs.
“It is total un-organized way of running cricket affairs. It was done in same manner last time as well and this year was no different. They have various excuses but reality is that they are themselves to be blamed for mess. Everyone knows how they operate and there was no advance preparation to select and prepare teams”.
“Hundreds of players from Jammu reached Srinagar during last days of trials. I am unable to understand how they will choose players among them within two or three days. It is total injustice with the talent that we have got and it shows that they are only for hanging on to their chairs, have no interest in cricket,” Iqbal added.
When contacted JKCA General Secretary, Iqbal Shah blamed lack of clarity from BCCI in for the advance preparation of teams.
“It is easy for those who are sitting outside JKCA offices to blame us for the mess. They are unaware about how much difficulty we are facing in running the cricket affairs. BCCI was not confirming status of sponsoring our teams till September 30 and to accommodate Jammu players in Srinagar or Kashmir province in Jammu was not small matter,” Shah said.
“I would love to conduct and prepare teams well in advance. I would love to announce teams 15 or 20 days before and then hold coaching camps. But our issue is not normal. We are battling court cases, seizure of funds. Around 114 players from Jammu arrived for final trials of Under-19, 23 and Ranji levels. To bear their expenses of lodging, boarding and food is huge task. It was only after getting BCCI nod we went ahead,” he added. (Courtesy Greater Kashmir)
