Baffling and mind boggling indeed are the doings and shenanigans of the five supposedly wise men of Indian cricket namely the selectors; these gentlemen who are a law unto themselves more often than not leave the best of us shaking our heads in utter disbelief and consternation at the best of times......
One presumes that cricketing logic and acumen is the basis for all the decisions taken by these five ex-cricketers who have either distinguished themselves at either the international or then domestic first class level of cricket, but a careful scrutiny of the credentials of these gentlemen will simply prove that this dictum is often bypassed when it comes to matters concerning the selectors selection.........
Loyalties, allegiances, proximity to the ruling clique or faction within a state cricketing association or then the choices and personal whims of regional cricketing satraps more often than not determine the nomination or choice of a selector from a respective zone rather than the cricketing acumen of the individual in question; otherwise what other reasons can be touted for the appointment of such non-entities like Surendra Bhave, Narendra Hirwani, Raja Venkat, Raj Singh Dungarpur, Sanjay Jagdale and others of their ilk just to name a few........
This vicious circle of allegiances, favours, sycophancy, and allegiance to state and region before the nation then determines the decisions of the five supposedly wise men who are desperately bending over backwards in an effort to please and satisfy their benefactors and sugar daddies rather than ensuring the bright and rosy future of team India........
Most selectors are more often than not a law unto themselves and their arrogance and high handedness often has to be seen to be believed, these very same men who are always ready to glover and cower at the feet of their lords and masters are the spitting images of Hitler and Stalin whenever questions are raised about their choices or then conspicuous absence of cricketing vision and fore/hindsight that ended up costing the country dear.......
Issues related to team selection are taken extremely seriously by the rest of the cricket playing nations with the notable exception of our next door neighbours the Pakistanis whose approach to matters pertaining to team selection is even more ham handed and lackadaisical than our very own cricket board........
The shroud or veil of secrecy surrounding all matters related to team selection and the participation of the Secretary of the Cricket Control Board in selection committee meetings as well as his august presence whenever the team for any and every forthcoming tour is announced is indeed as baffling as it is unwelcome and the repeated utterances of the chairman of the selection committee about the committee having selected the best available team without rendering a plausible explanation for the inclusion or then exclusion of player X from the team is indeed what gets the goat of both cricket writers commentators, past cricketers as well as the paying public who has accorded cricket this exalted status.........
Ham handedness, obtuseness and sheer pig headedness has often put paid to the hopes and aspirations of many a budding cricketer and often robbed the country of such genuine talents who without a shadow of doubt would have gone on to make the country proud......otherwise what explains the fact that a cricketer who averages 63 in domestic cricket after having played 53 games for his Ranji trophy team is sidelined time and again in favour of a cricketer who averages a much more modest 43 after having played 72 games for his state side (and if you still don't get it, I am talking about Rahane having to warm the benches while a far bless deserving Suresh Raina continues to enjoy an extended run thanks to his proximity with the captain and a certain gentleman who is the owner of both the Chennai Super Kings IPL franchise as well as the President of the BCCI).......
Selection is a specialised job and is best left to those cricketers who have proved their integrity, wisdom and above all ability to take firm decisions with fear or favour in matters pertaining to team selection, prudent selection or then the charade carried out under it's garb is what determines the standing of a team within the annals or hierarchy of test playing nations........
Should the BCCI continue with this whimsical and highly arbitrary manner of selecting the Indian cricket team or then adopt and emulate a far more comprehensive and mature manner of selecting the team by incorporating and emulating the best features of team selection followed by the English and Aussie cricket boards????? well every Michael, Madana Kama and Rajan would be falling over himself in an effort to answer the million rupee question..
One presumes that cricketing logic and acumen is the basis for all the decisions taken by these five ex-cricketers who have either distinguished themselves at either the international or then domestic first class level of cricket, but a careful scrutiny of the credentials of these gentlemen will simply prove that this dictum is often bypassed when it comes to matters concerning the selectors selection.........
Loyalties, allegiances, proximity to the ruling clique or faction within a state cricketing association or then the choices and personal whims of regional cricketing satraps more often than not determine the nomination or choice of a selector from a respective zone rather than the cricketing acumen of the individual in question; otherwise what other reasons can be touted for the appointment of such non-entities like Surendra Bhave, Narendra Hirwani, Raja Venkat, Raj Singh Dungarpur, Sanjay Jagdale and others of their ilk just to name a few........
This vicious circle of allegiances, favours, sycophancy, and allegiance to state and region before the nation then determines the decisions of the five supposedly wise men who are desperately bending over backwards in an effort to please and satisfy their benefactors and sugar daddies rather than ensuring the bright and rosy future of team India........
Most selectors are more often than not a law unto themselves and their arrogance and high handedness often has to be seen to be believed, these very same men who are always ready to glover and cower at the feet of their lords and masters are the spitting images of Hitler and Stalin whenever questions are raised about their choices or then conspicuous absence of cricketing vision and fore/hindsight that ended up costing the country dear.......
Issues related to team selection are taken extremely seriously by the rest of the cricket playing nations with the notable exception of our next door neighbours the Pakistanis whose approach to matters pertaining to team selection is even more ham handed and lackadaisical than our very own cricket board........
The shroud or veil of secrecy surrounding all matters related to team selection and the participation of the Secretary of the Cricket Control Board in selection committee meetings as well as his august presence whenever the team for any and every forthcoming tour is announced is indeed as baffling as it is unwelcome and the repeated utterances of the chairman of the selection committee about the committee having selected the best available team without rendering a plausible explanation for the inclusion or then exclusion of player X from the team is indeed what gets the goat of both cricket writers commentators, past cricketers as well as the paying public who has accorded cricket this exalted status.........
Ham handedness, obtuseness and sheer pig headedness has often put paid to the hopes and aspirations of many a budding cricketer and often robbed the country of such genuine talents who without a shadow of doubt would have gone on to make the country proud......otherwise what explains the fact that a cricketer who averages 63 in domestic cricket after having played 53 games for his Ranji trophy team is sidelined time and again in favour of a cricketer who averages a much more modest 43 after having played 72 games for his state side (and if you still don't get it, I am talking about Rahane having to warm the benches while a far bless deserving Suresh Raina continues to enjoy an extended run thanks to his proximity with the captain and a certain gentleman who is the owner of both the Chennai Super Kings IPL franchise as well as the President of the BCCI).......
Selection is a specialised job and is best left to those cricketers who have proved their integrity, wisdom and above all ability to take firm decisions with fear or favour in matters pertaining to team selection, prudent selection or then the charade carried out under it's garb is what determines the standing of a team within the annals or hierarchy of test playing nations........
Should the BCCI continue with this whimsical and highly arbitrary manner of selecting the Indian cricket team or then adopt and emulate a far more comprehensive and mature manner of selecting the team by incorporating and emulating the best features of team selection followed by the English and Aussie cricket boards????? well every Michael, Madana Kama and Rajan would be falling over himself in an effort to answer the million rupee question..
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