Despite having finished on top of North Zone group in Under-23 One Day League J&K would be playing pre-quarterfinal while as Punjab that finished second will be playing direct quarterfinal.
In a bizarre turn of events J&K didn’t got any benefit of finishing as they will be playing its pre-quarterfinal against Mubai at Kanpur on Sunday. Punjab that finished second in North Zone behind J&K will be waiting for the outcome of pre-quarterfinal to see who their opponent in quarterfinal would be.
For Mumbai its is normal to play in quarterfinal as they finished second in their group but for J&K it should have been pre-quarterfinal.
“I don’t understand this and I think even JKCA that is not under experienced hands missed this point. J&K is not getting any benefit now from finishing unbeaten and to top the group. Punjab is directly in quarterfinal despite finishing second. It is pure injustice and JKCA should take up this with BCCI,” said a former JKCA official.
Same has happened with Odhisa, Kerala, Gujarat and Manipur who finished on top on their group and still would be playing stage 16 matches.
While Bengal, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh who finished second would be playing stage 8. Infact
Central zone both 1st and second placed teams, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan would be playing in quarterfinal