Cricket“Laughable things”-Ex cricketer slams Indian cricket after Highest wicket-takers snub in Duleep Trophy
Duleep Trophy team selection has received a lot of flak from players and state association officials this season, as off-spinner Jalaj Saxena, who was the highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy last season, and Sagar Udeshi have been dropped from the south zone squad. The former is a player for the Kerala team, while the latter plays for Pondicherry. All-rounder Vijay Shankar, who scored three hundreds in the previous season, has also been left out.
Jalesh was overlooked
Jalesh Saxena took an impressive 50 wickets in seven matches, while Udeshi picked up 42 wickets. Last season, BCCI asked the zonal selectors to pick the Duleep Trophy team, as a result, each state nominates one of their selectors to pick the team, and the new BCCI constitution does not allow their national selectors to pick players, leaving it entirely in the hands of the zonal selectors.
Udeshi gave an impressive performance
After such important and impressive players were overlooked, the selector of the Cricket Association of Pondicherry, Thalaivan Sargunam Xavier, termed Udeshi’s exclusion from the team as completely biased. He raised his objection and said, “Despite enormous efforts made by the president, some cricket associations united against Pondicherry and ensured that no one from Cricket Association Pondicherry would represent in the south zone. Even though Sagar Udeshi took 42 wickets, priority was given to bowlers who took 30 wickets and I strongly oppose this attitude and I think the selection is definitely biased.
Former cricketer bashed the decision
Jalaj Saxena also tweeted on this matter and wrote, “The highest wicket taker in the Ranji Trophy was not selected for the Duleep Trophy. Can you please check if this has ever happened in Indian domestic history? I am not blaming anyone; just want to know. Former Indian legend Venkatesh Prasad also bashed the decision that Saxena was not selected in the South Zone. He tweeted that many ridiculous things are happening in Indian cricket. The fact that the highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy was not selected for the South Zone team is equally shocking, it just makes the Ranji Trophy a total waste and a total shame.
It is known that none of the members of the zonal selection committee spoke to the national committee before selecting the team. For example, the south zone selectors have named KS Bharat as the wicketkeeper for their opening match on July 5. Bharat, who was part of the Indian team, will travel to the Caribbean on July 2. On the other hand, Kedhar Jadhav’s name was spotted on the West Zone list.
