Assam calls east zone selector a rubber stamp

[nsareen]

Assam calls east zone selector a rubber stamp http://epaper.mailtoday.in/11102011/EpaperImages//11102011//101020112353046-large.jpg By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi THE issue of contentious selections threatened to snowball into a major controversy on Monday with a top state cricket official terming the east zone national selector a rubber stamp and accusing him of being biased against Assam players. Bikash Baruah, secretary of the Assam Cricket Association ( ACA), also claimed that five of the six constituent associations of the east zone wanted to have CR Venkataraman, popularly called Raja Venkat, replaced. But he alleged that the Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI) didnÃÕ heed to their demand and allowed Venkat one more season, the fourth one on the trot, to represent his zone on the five- man senior selection committee. Raja Venkat is nothing but a rubber stamp. He would only select players from his state [ Bengal]. East zone players, particularly from Assam, are always neglected for the national team, fumed Baruah while speaking to MAIL TODAY . During an east zone meeting on September 3, I said that Venkat should be replaced. In fact, five states Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand, Tripura, and Assam wanted him to be replaced. But he was persisted with as the BCCI did not listen to us. The Board said that he has one more year to go as a selector, he said. ACA was projecting former junior national selector Rajesh Borah to take the place of Venkat. A senior national selector receives ` 40 lakh per annum. Venkat declined to react to the charge. People can say what they want. Why should I be bothered? he told MAIL TODAY . Even Shoaib Akhtar has said things about Sachin Tendulkar. And who is Bikash Baruah? Is he a cricketer? I havenÃÕ heard his name. Baruah cites another reason to be angry with the national selectors: the negligence of Assam players, particularly fast bowler Abu http://epaper.mailtoday.in/11102011/EpaperImages//11102011//1010201123530218.jpg Nechim Ahmed and prolific batsman Dheeraj Jadhav, who is playing for the state as a pro, from the ongoing Challenger Trophy. The ACA secretary felt so strongly about the non- selection of Abu Nechim in any of the three teams for the Challenger Trophy that he dashed off a letter to the BCCI president and secretary, N Srinivasan and Sanjay Jagdale respectively, on Monday. In all, 42 players have been picked for the tournament. It is to state that an expectation is there that a player performing well in various tournaments will get a call for a higher level but, unfortunately, that expectation is believed [ belied] in case of Abu Nechim Ahmed who, in spite of, a splendid show was ignored, which will definitely tell upon the moral [ morale] of the player concerned, he wrote in the letter, a copy of which is with M AIL T ODAY . Needless to mention here, he would have [ had] a fillip had he been selected in the Challenger Trophy, he said. It is our earnest request to you to take up the matter with the selectors and insist on them in this regard. Apart from taking wickets consistently in domestic tournaments, Abu Nechim captured eight wickets at a good average of 16.50 in Mumbai Indians Champions League T20 triumph. Since his first- class debut in 2005- 06, he has bagged 62 wickets. In between he joined the unauthorised Indian Cricket League ( ICL) and lost two years of official cricket ( 2007 to 2009). Abu NechimÃÔ biggest asset, however, is that he swings the ball both ways at express speed to unsettle batsmen. Jadhav made his debut for Maharashtra in 1999- 2000, and joined the ICL. He then switched to Assam as a pro and this is his third season. In the 2009- 10 domestic season, he aggregated 631 and last season he scored 443. When contacted, Baruah said that after sending the letter, he also called up Jagdale on Monday. I told him that Assam as well as other states also have good players who havenÃÕ been selected for the Challenger Trophy, he said. I will also raise this issue in the next working committee meeting. Baruah feels Venkat is responsible for the plight of Assam players. He doesnÃÕ even watches matches in the zone; he ignored our players, he alleged.

[nsareen]

this is exactly what the forum was discussing sometime back, Abu Nechim is being ignored because he is from Assam.

[rkt.india]

Politics, nepotism and favoritism everywhere in India, cricket is not apart from it. Jagdale is bringing his state players like Sudhindra and Jalaj Saxena. Srikant selecting his son in every team possible, Shivlal Yadav selecting his son for India A. Niranjan Shah selecting his son for India A. Examples aplenty. And then who do we blame when some ignored guys like Nechim and Rayudu chose ICL?

[f.b.m]

Politics, nepotism and favoritism everywhere in India, cricket is not apart from it. Jagdale is bringing his state players like Sudhindra and Jalaj Saxena. Srikant selecting his son in every team possible, Shivlal Yadav selecting his son for India A. Niranjan Shah selecting his son for India A. Examples aplenty. And then who do we blame when some ignored guys like Nechim and Rayudu chose ICL?

++ Yet few look at the source of the problem: That top level cricket is regional/international. In a franchise system if a corrupt bastard selects his own son over a more talented player, some other team will buy him instead and succeed. Favoritism and corruption thrive when there is only one option.

[kabira]

Its not like only Bengal is getting the deal here. Varun Aaron was drafted in the indian team. Saurabh Tiwary got a national cap..

[bulbul]

Politics, nepotism and favoritism everywhere in India, cricket is not apart from it. Jagdale is bringing his state players like Sudhindra and Jalaj Saxena. Srikant selecting his son in every team possible, Shivlal Yadav selecting his son for India A. Niranjan Shah selecting his son for India A. Examples aplenty. And then who do we blame when some ignored guys like Nechim and Rayudu chose ICL?

we were lucky to win World cup withot Nechim and Rayudu :winky:

[rkt.india]

we were lucky to win World cup withot Nechim and Rayudu :winky:

Where's World Cup came into this discussion. You are great sir dumdumdigadiga:hatsoff:. But actually we were lucky to win the world cup with the kind of selection system we have, thanks to some amazing individual talent and their brilliance.

[ganeshran]

we were lucky to win World cup withot Nechim and Rayudu :winky:

Rayudu? :giggle::giggle:

[saneindian]

Raja Venkat's Cricinfo profile says-

After his retirement, he served on the BCCI's media committee in 2005 and on the museum committee in 2008 before becoming a national selector in September.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/35791.html What a wonderful career progression- media committee, museum committee and then straight into national selection team!! :facepalm:

[asterix]

Raja Venkat's Cricinfo profile says- http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/35791.html What a wonderful career progression- media committee, museum committee and then straight into national selection team!! :facepalm:

:facepalm:

[rkt.india]

Raja Venkat's Cricinfo profile says- http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/35791.html What a wonderful career progression- media committee, museum committee and then straight into national selection team!! :facepalm:

He has some strong connections there.

[Sid]

This is the exact reason why this zonal selection committe thing should be abolished.There should be 5 ex intl. cricketers selected from any zone ,who have credibility and these selectors should have coordination with all the different state team selectors and should watch most(if not al) domestic matches throughout the country regularly. Selection is no more a thankless job ,they are getting big sums for their job and even after that if thiis kind of nepotism ,favourtism etc will go on ,then what can one say :facepalm:

[achilles]

Selectors, especially from the unchartered and unpopular (in terms of star power only) territories have always been rubber-stamps. I've said this time and again. Just because Mumbai made controversial selections consistently, doesn't justify South taking revenge and when North and East have their turns, I wouldn't support them either. If I am a cricketer, I would like to be picked on the basis of the runs I score, the promise I hold and my ability, not much name, surname, state, religion, connections and affiliations to key people.

[Trundler27]

Unfortunately this nonsense happens everywhere. Even the aussies are always pissed about the fact that nsw gets preferential treatment when it comes of selection matters. This is one reason that england has really come up in the recent times as they have truly started picking upcoming and consistent performers from their county circuit regardless of affiliation to any given county. For us on the other hand, the team is always open for any star player to walk-in as and when they see fit. So the youngsters and upcoming talents are not really managed well, let alone selected in the appropriate teams (A-team, ranji squads, emerging players, etc). I still think that Nechim being part of the Mumbai IPL setup will get enough national attention to force his way in the national discussion sooner than later.