Veteran cricketers up in ante against dropping of Jammu’s ace player in Vijay Harare Trophy matches

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association has yet again landed into controversy as veteran cricketers are up in ante against dropping of Jammu’s ace player in two matches of the ongoing Vijay Harare Trophy matches, being played at Chennai.
The cricket body faced the wrath of veteran cricketers after a seasoned and experienced player from Jammu, Ian Dev Singh was dropped against Bengal by Kashmir-based Parvez Rasool headed J&K Cricket Association.
Singh, who captained the J&K Ranji Trophy squad in 2013-14, was on Thursday dropped from the team, when skipper Rasool, assisted by Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan, preferred 8:3 ratio on the field.
”Skipper Parvez Rasool preferred to accommodate the blue eyed boy from Kashmir over deserving players,” rued the cricketers.
”Dropping Ian Dev Singh was an astonishing decision. It has really left the cricketers dumbstruck,” Ashwani Gupta, veteran cricketer and former J&K Ranji Trophy player, here told UNI.
He said not taking Singh into the team in both the matches, was just like a body without spine.
”He has a wonderful record and had always rescued J&K from turbulent waters with his outstanding performances,” said Gupta.
The former Ranji Trophy cricketer also slammed captain Rasool and experienced cricketer Irfan for their decision and termed it as ‘unacceptable.’
”It is not only Ian Dev Singh, who has been victimised, but four cricketers were not even taken to the venue and they were told to remain in a hotel room,” he alleged.
Another cricketer and former Ranji Trophy skipper of J&K Vijay Sharma alleged that Kashmir-based agenda is being flourished in cricket too.
”Jammu had always been victimised by Kashmiri forces and this is exactly what is happening in cricket too.
”Last year, I accompanied the team as coach and we had good results. We played as team, not as Jammu v/s Kashmir,” said Sharma, adding that Mr Singh is captain stuff and his ouster from playing-11 was taken by surprise in the cricket fraternity.
Jammu-based International cricketer Mithun Manhas, while having all praise for Singh, here told UNI that he is a class player.
”How one can even think of dropping such a wonderful player, who had captained the team for two seasons and has a wonderful record in his kitty.”
Manhas, however, also slammed Rasool for being ‘choosy’ and politicising the gentleman’s game.
Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday was beaten by Bengal by six wickets. Captain Rasool contributed four runs and Pathan was sent back to pavilion for zero.
Last week, former Ranji Trophy captains Dhruv Mahajan and Vidya Bhaskar resigned as selectors, while two others from Kashmir- Zahoor Bhat and chief selector Parvez Qaiser quit the selectors’ panel for alleged ‘undue interference’ by player and mentor Irfan Pathan.
However, despite resignation by the entire panel, the JKCA deputed the state team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.