Hyderabad: The Telangana Cricket Association (TCA) on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), alleging that even the selection of state teams continues to be compromised by arbitrary choices, despite claims of bringing professionalism into the system.
TCA General Secretary Dharam Guruva Reddy questioned whether the appointment of former India and Hyderabad Test cricketer Ambati Rayudu as Cricket Administrator had made any meaningful difference to the selection process.
“If professionalism has really been brought into the selection process, how can a 15-member state squad contain as many as five wicket-keepers? What kind of team composition is this? No sensible selector or cricket administrator would normally construct a squad this way,” Reddy said in an official statement.
The squad cited by the TCA lists Shaik Rehaan Roshan, B. Varshit Reddy, Aditya Vardhan, Aditya Javvaji and P. Prince as wicket-keepers.
Reddy said the question was not merely about the number of wicket-keepers, but whether players who performed consistently in the leagues were being given their due.
“If three of them were regular wicket-keepers who had also earned their places through outstanding batting or bowling performances, nobody would have questioned their selection. But when players who have produced substantial numbers across the leagues are overlooked, serious questions naturally arise,” he said.
The TCA pointed to the performances of several players. According to figures released by the association, P. Advith Reddy scored 1,024 runs across the Two-Day League, Super 12 and Super Six competitions, including three centuries and four fifties.
Jaswanth Kanneboina scored 696 runs, including three centuries and three fifties. B. Varshit Reddy accumulated 528 runs, with two centuries and a fifty, while Aditya Vardhan scored 473 runs, including a century and a fifty.
“Nothing much seems to have changed in the selection process. The very purpose of conducting leagues is to provide players an opportunity to establish their credentials through performance. If those performances are not reflected adequately in the final selections, what message are we sending to young cricketers?” Reddy asked.
He alleged that the latest selections had once again created the impression that players were being accommodated rather than selected purely on merit.
“The HCA cannot talk about professionalism, transparency and development of cricket while allowing selection decisions that raise such obvious questions. Telangana cricketers deserve a system where performance on the field is the primary currency,” Reddy said.
The TCA demanded greater transparency in the selection process and said the interests of talented young cricketers should not be compromised by what it termed arbitrary selection practices.
“Players spend months preparing and then prove themselves in competitive leagues. Their performances cannot simply be brushed aside. Merit must be the foundation of selection,” Reddy added.
