The Hindu : Cricket selections: favouritism not a new phenomenon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 26, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Cricket selections: favouritism not a new phenomenon

By V. V. Subrahmanyam

Hyderabad. Nov.25. Who will bell the cat? This is the question that remains unanswered even as there are desperate efforts to stifle the arguably bold voices that hinted money does change hands in the selection process of cricket teams at different levels. Importantly, this is not confined just to cricket but prevalent in other disciplines too.

Understandably, the cricket administrators at the State level seem to be taking cover under the sweeping excuse - where is the proof? That's because they are sure not even a single "beneficiary" will come out openly and say, "yes, I have been favoured" or even those who couldn't "raise the money or material benefits demanded" for the simple reason of not wanting to jeopardise their careers.

But, it is anybody's guess that not always selection of any team at any level is not free and fair. There is the usual quota system for any team. Instances are many of the affected parties confess and sing in private about the disturbing trend when the selectors allegedly favoured a few for reasons best known to them. The most commonly heard allegation is the undue favour one young cricketer in the sub-junior grade got after his father paid the money for the installation of a jet-pump to the borewell at one of the cricket venues!

There was another instance in the Andhra Cricket Association when the entire selection panel was sacked after one of the senior members vehemently objected to the `big boss' sending a typed list of players to be named for a South Zone under-22 cricket match against Kerala in Anantapur about six years ago. The selector concerned could not even think of getting a copy, as the letter didn't have the signature of the big man. But, concrete proof is difficult to come by.

There is another dangerous trend in cricket selection, if one is confined to Hyderabad. Ex-cricketers fancying themselves as crusaders against the inconsistent selection policies are shy of coming out in the open. Even a cursory look at the statistics of the players in the under-13 and under-16 grade reveal that not many of them have really performed.

A visit to the under-13 open selection trials on Tuesday at the Gymkhana Grounds saw some of the selectors in different age groups coming up with interesting stories of the `big guns' including Ministers, police officials, local politicians putting tremendous pressure. It seems there's a quota of at least three slots in each category for such `privileged sections'.

Former Ranji cricketer Vanka Pratap took a big risk to point out (though "under pressure" backed out later) that the malady does exist in Hyderabad too, after the Abhijit Kale episode unfolded at the national-level. The need of the hour is a serious introspection by the "wise men in the selection panel".

What's the point in blaming the parents? There is nothing wrong if they see a Sachin Tendulkar in their ward and the selectors should gauge the potential of the player than get influenced. Interestingly, none of the cricket officials even want to say that they would probe the allegations.

"We supported him when everyone was questioning his continuance in Ranji team. Now, the cricketer makes these silly allegations," is their argument against Pratap. Is it not a confession that players who don't perform still go on playing when the going is smooth with the men who matter?

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