Hyderabad cricketers get raw deal in selections

Hyderabad cricketers get raw deal in selections

Hyderabad cricketers get a raw deal once again in the selections for Duleep Trophy, Deodhar Trophy and the Challenger Trophy tournaments.

Hyderabad Ranji opener P. Akshath Reddy was second in the Ranji Trophy performers list (openers category) with 670-plus runs. Wicket-keeper batsman Ibrahim Khaleel holds the world record for the highest number of victims (14) in first-class cricket which he achieved last season in Guwahati in Ranji Trophy. Left-arm spinner Lalith Mohan heads the list of wicket-takers amongst spinners in the South Zone Ranji Trophy last season with 26 victims. Ahmed Quadri is one of the most consistent off-spinning all-rounders in domestic cricket itself.

And, Hyderabad Ranji captain D. B. Ravi Teja was also amongst the lead scorers with 520-plus runs last season. But, ironically, except for Akshath Reddy, who was in the squad but not in the playing eleven against East Zone in the match now on, no one else figures from Hyderabad in the South Zone squad for the on-going Duleep Trophy.

For these plain figures don’t matter really when the big-wigs sit for selection of the Zonal team. The other interesting aspect is that Lalith Mohan, who is rated the third best spinner overall in Ranji Trophy last season and was also named in the India’s next eleven by the Neo-Cricket TV panel of experts. But, he doesn’t seem to fit into the scheme of things for the zonal selectors!

For the record, the chairmen of the senior selection panels (from Hyderabad it is Hari Mohan this time) from each of the State Cricket Association in the South Zone attend the zonal selection meetings.

“We have to admit that we have little say in the zonal selections,” admits a senior HCA official on condition of anonymity. There is the other argument too.

“If HCA officials say that they are helpless in these matters, it is a disgrace. How can two States share all the slots in the playing eleven of a South Zone team? Is HCA there only to conduct the leagues and Ranji Trophy matches. Who else should take care of the players’ who naturally dream of going to places based on their performances,” argues another official.