The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has come under scrutiny for its vague selection policy and lack of clarity, consistency, and communication. With the India women’s Tour of Bangladesh and the men’s tour of the West Indies approaching, the BCCI announced two 18-member squads, raising more questions than answers.
One of the main concerns surrounds the selection criteria for the women’s squad led by Harmanpreet Kaur. Players such as Saika Ishaque, who performed well in the Women’s Premier League, were overlooked while others, like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal, were included in the men’s team based on their performance in the Indian Premier League. The inconsistency in selecting players from franchise T20 leagues is baffling.
Furthermore, the decision to exclude top performers such as wicket-keeper Richa Ghosh, pacer Renuka Singh Thakur, and Shikha Pandey from the women’s squad raises eyebrows. On the men’s side, the sudden reinstatement of Ajinkya Rahane as the Test team vice-captain after being out of favor for almost 19 months leaves fans wondering about the criteria for selection.
The lack of clarity extends to Ranji Trophy performers like Sarfaraz Khan and Abhimanyu Easwaran, who are left in limbo regarding their future prospects. If performances in domestic first-class cricket don’t carry weight in selection decisions, should they focus solely on honing their T20 skills? The success of players like Jaiswal, Gaikwad, and Ishan Kishan in T20 leagues raises this question.
Even impressive performances by young players like Shreyanka Patil in the Women’s Premier League and the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup haven’t secured them a spot in the senior squad. The absence of a clear path or benchmark for selection decisions only adds to the confusion.
The BCCI needs to provide basic clarity, consistency, and communication to bring direction and transparency to Indian cricket. At present, these three Cs seem to be lacking, leaving players and fans in the dark about how selections are made.
A balanced view of the issue would involve understanding and addressing the challenges faced by the BCCI, such as the need to balance performances across different formats and prioritize long-term development over short-term gains. However, the lack of transparency in the selection process undermines confidence in the governing body.
In conclusion, the BCCI’s selection policy continues to raise questions and lacks the necessary clarity, consistency, and communication. The absence of a clear path for players and a benchmark for selection decisions only leads to confusion and frustration. It is crucial for the BCCI to address these issues and provide transparency and direction to the Indian cricket fraternity.
