Lucknow: It has always been a matter of deep regret to see deserving players deliberately and unfairly shown the door by selectors. Once again, this pattern appears to have repeated itself in the run-up to the T-20 tournament. During the auction held to shortlist players for bidding, none of the Under-19 or Under-16 players were included in the list—an omission that smacks of a deliberate conspiracy and demands a thorough, impartial investigation at the highest level.
Several players who delivered outstanding performances in both age-group categories last season, and who have even been recognised by the BCCI, have reportedly been sidelined by the UPCA. One is left to ask: if emerging Under-19 and Under-16 talent isn’t given a chance to play in the T-20 tournament, then who exactly is supposed to play? At a time when a 15-year-old is representing India on the international stage and doing the country proud with his performances, it is troubling that our own state appears to be stifling the growth of similarly promising young stars through what looks like a calculated conspiracy. Adding to the concern, several capable players who have crossed the age of 19 have also reportedly not found a place in any team. Even more strikingly, of the 20 players who were listed for the auction, several were allegedly never called up for bidding at all—raising suspicions of yet another orchestrated move, allegedly influenced by a powerful figure to whom even the selectors appear beholden.
Such selectors—who bypass merit and fairness to rubber-stamp the selection of underqualified players on someone’s instruction, while sidelining genuinely talented ones—deserve to be strongly condemned. This is nothing short of shameful.
In light of this, an appeal has been made to former players, current cricketers, cricket enthusiasts, parents, and all state players who have represented the country to come forward and raise their voices against this alleged conspiracy.
