KARACHI:
As criticism gained momentum over the selection of certain players at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Fast Track Coaching Programme, the selection committee attempted to distance itself from the controversy.
A member of the national selection committee, in a response to allegations that certain players were included in the camp undeservedly, said that the National Cricket Academy (NCA) finalised the list of the players for the second phase of the camp comprising all-rounders, middle-order batsmen and spinners.
The phase, currently underway at the NCA, has become a centre of controversy over the last-minute inclusion of some players with influential backgrounds.
This was alleged by a senior official of the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) who said that many deserving players were overlooked to pave way for these “favoured ones”.
“The PCB has shown a biased attitude while selecting the players,” the official told The Express Tribune. “Some deserving players have been ignored and this time it is not only Karachi players who have been targeted.
“The governing board members have been obliged,” added the official pointing out the late inclusion of Ali Talpur, son of PCB Governing Board member Mir Haider Talpur.
While the official alleged that Ali was favoured, he also stated that the player had an unimpressive record in domestic cricket and could not be classified as an all-rounder.
“If it’s a programme to hone talented, but struggling, players then why Fawad Alam, who scored a century on debut, has been excluded?”
“They ignored Ramiz Raja, the highest scorer at the Faysal Bank Super Eight T20, and included him after we pressurised them.”
‘NCA chose players for the second phase’
However, a selection committee member, while admitting the glitch, said it was the NCA management that finalised the players for the second phase.
“NCA is responsible for the selection in the second phase,” said the selector.
“There may be some flaws but only the NCA management can answer those queries.
“The selection committee wasn’t consulted when players were being finalised for the second phase.
Meanwhile, when contacted, NCA Director Intikhab Alam was not available to comment.
Mohsin downplays controversy
However, the PCB Chief Selector Mohsin Khan downplayed the issue.
“Although the selection committee hasn’t finalised the players, each one in the programme is there for a purpose,” said Mohsin.
“There is no such thing like favouritism and deserving players will get their chances.
“This programme will become a regular feature and players, who have missed out, will get a chance in the future.
“It is easy to focus on a fewer players at a time and that’s why not all the cricketers were included.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2011.
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They did not include Fawad Alam because he is playing Club Cricket in English for Woodland Spa and Rameez Raja (Jn) is a very good talent and you will be seeing him in the upcoming Zimbabwe tour :)