SPORTS MINISTER ARVIND PANDEY ASSURES OF FULL TRANSPARENCY IN THE UTTARAKHAND RANJI PLAYERS’ SELECTION

There are secret reports from various sources that lot of politics and favoritism is being exercised in the trials and subsequent selection of Ranji Trophy cricket players for its Uttarakhand’s cricket team, being held at Dehradun . It’s nothing new that there is usually a lot of red tapism and corruption in the selection processes in cricket at the district, state and national levels and the formula of setting, getting is ultimately applied.

At majority of the districts and state level selections this is usually applicable as those having influential connections try to ensure the selection of their candidates thus surpassing the real and competetive players especially hailing from poor or moderate socio economic background.

In Dehradun, Uttarakhand, the same thing seems to be happening with the deserving n budding aspirants with merit are being allegedly sidelined and those incompetent considered.

Though the process of trial is still on for the Uttarakhand’s Ranji Trophy team but the highly deserving with no political support still feel apprehensive of being left out, despite their best performance.

There have been number of complaints that lots of non Uttarakhandi cricket players of other states who could not prove successful in Ranji Teams of other states are now clandestinely using their political influence, clout and sources to have their place in Uttarakhand Ranji Trophy team thus killing the chances of the local Uttarakhandi deserving players.

There have been news in various papers that the domicile certificates of these outsiders ate being allegedly prepared on back dates through various private academies based in Dehradun for 30 to forty thousand rupees so that they can technically claim themselves as Uttarakhand’s citizen.

However, sources reveal that after receiving the complaints the BCCI and Uttarakhand Cricket Cordination Committee would now minutely scrutinise the domicile certificates and other documents of all the entrants.

In view of the preparation of the Uttarakhand Ranji Trophy Team several cricketers who’d left their hometown in Uttarakhand years ago are now returning back for continuous practice and their subsequent selection in the district cricket teams and Ranji Trophy.

Maximum of these cricketeers are under 16 and under 19 playing for other schools and boards outside Uttarakhand earlier.

In the meanwhile the Uttarakhand Sports Minister Arvind Pandey has said that he had also been receiving complaints about alleged favouritism, irregularity and red tapism in the selection process of the state Ranji Trophy team for which trial selection is underway in Dehradun these days. He assured of transparency in the selection process with strong warning to those involved in.this fishi affair. The minister asked the media to expose the irregularity or arbitrariness if any in the selection process of the Uttarakhand Ranji Trophy team so that he can take strict action against those involved in these illegal activity.

Now, as per the short listed names in the list for selection in the final trials if the names of at least first three players like Ajeet Rawat, Hari Singh ot Saurav Chauhan are not chosen in the team it would be crystal clear that justice have not been meted out to them. The chief minister of the state Trivendra Singh Rawat should intervene in the selection process and instruct those involved in this selection to be impartial, honest and fully technical to ensure that who ever is selected gets the opportunity on entirely competetive basis not on favour or political influence. What’s your take friends?