Hyderabad: Selection snags continue to dog the Hyderabad Cricket Association even after the new body took charge last month.
The latest to kick up dust is the Under 16 team for the Vijay Merchant Trophy that was announced on Sunday.
While many parents have expressed displeasure at their wards being left out, one of them has written to the HCA Apex Council highlighting the raw deal meted out to his son and has listed comparative performances.
He pointed out that the team was picked much before the last match for the Probables finished, depriving his allrounder son a place in the squad, which has quite a few loose ends.
“Players who have scored less runs and taken fewer wickets in the Probables and B-Division two-day league matches have been included,” bemoaned the erudite parent who requested anonymity.
“The selection has been surreptitious. In the probables matches, a batsman has been given close to 20 overs to bowl while a recognised bowler has been taken off after sending down just five,” he added.
He also listed out four players who have been picked after playing the C-Division one-day league. Matches in the Vijay Merchant Trophy are played on a three-day basis.
Two players, born in 2008, have submitted Date of Birth certificates that were registered in 2022 and 2023 — 13 and 14 years respectively after they were born. “What did they submit for school admissions?” he wondered.
The selectors were appointed for a term of three years by the Supreme Court-appointed Single Man Committee Justice (Retd) L. Nageswara Rao before conducting elections to the cricket body last month. “They feel they have a free hand, are not accountable to anyone (including the elected office-bearers) and are striking sophisticated private deals. I don’t think those who have put them in these positions intended this,” the peeved parent said.
“The selection process needs to be drilled down to measurable metrics with a component for subjective impression for sure, but not a broad licence wherein any kid can be pulled down even if he has the numbers,” the aggrieved parent said.
“The Augean Stables just got an access control card... same game (as last year), no accountability, more sophisticated. Strong administrators are needed to strike fear among these people. And yes, why not institute an inquiry by the Special Branch against all members of the selection committee?” he concluded.
