Favouritism ruins under 17 junior selections

Published : 5:53 pm  April 26, 2012 |  2 comments  |     |   (13)  |  

Though the under 17 junior cricket team to India has been selected by the Selection Committee they have failed to release the squad to the media as there are many discrepancies according to reliable sources. The committee is delaying the release of the names as the discrepancies may come to light and thus cause mayhem.
The most surprising selection is the captain for the tour overlooking the former under 15 captain from Prince of Wales College Kusal Mendis.
It is learnt that the captaincy is to be awarded to a player from a school that a selection committee official and coach is involved with.
Further it is alleged that the captain of the 2010 under 15 team Panadura Royal’s Madhawa Nimesh too has lost his place which is given to a player from a favourite school of an official.
Though Kusal is only 17 years of age he plays in the first XI team and is the first player to reach the three-figure mark this season. He also had the opportunity of leading the under 15 national team to Malaysia in 2009 and led the under 17 Prince of Wales team last year.
Further, the newly appointed captain has not even led his school team this season according to reports. The selectors have held only a single trial to pick the squad. It was stunning to hear that Nimesh who attended the trial scored an unbeaten on 25 when the organizers called off the game not giving him an opportunity to prove his capabilities.

Madhawa is a top notch bat who had scored 802 runs during this season playing in the First XI team.
Earlier too there were many allegations against the selection committee saying that they were trying to hide the best talent available and including their favorites who  are not up to the mark.

When contacted chairman of selectors Sunil Wickramanayake said that two trials were held as there are two pools existing and he knows the talents of the players.
Giving reasons for the dropping of outstanding player Kusal Mendis and Madhawa Nimesh he said Kusal is already in the Under 19 pool and that is why another player was selected as captain. Speaking on Nimesh he said that he is good player but they had selected a better player instead of him.
Most of the experienced and senior coaches were surprised about the selections done by the selection committee. The secretary Schools Cricket Association Dilshan de Silva said that this selection committee has made many blunders and also violated the Education Department circulars when conducting trials to pick the pool. He further added that he has already complained to the Education
Department on this issue.
It was also learnt that a particular selector who has connections with a Kandy school has favored this school and previously he has called his son to attend the trials.