J&K Cricket Association (JKCA) finalised squads across age groups and senior categories in the last few days. There was one common feature in all of them: non-performers picked over talented players.
From U-19 to the Ranji Trophy squad, known faces who have been playing for years and doing nothing made it through but those who performed well in trial matches were left out.
In the Ranji Trophy squad, players like Shubham Pundir, who averages 24 in 40 firs-class innings and scored 2, 2 and 18 in three matches of J.P Atray recently, was preferred over somebody like Nasir Lone despite his good performances in the same tournament.
The left-arm spin duo from Kashmir, Imtiyaz Ahmad and Taizeem Tak, fast bowler Tahir Bhat and all-rounder Irfan Ul Haq despite performing brilliantly in trial matches also did not find a place in the team.
People on social media have also shown displeasure with fewer Kashmir division players being included in the squads with many calling the current body as JCA (Jammu Cricket Association).
In U-23 and U-19 age-group teams, the scene is no different. Players who did well in trial matches have been ignored while those with paltry numbers in past seasons and in trial matches get special treatment for no apparent reason.