Cricket

The Ranji Trophy, India's premier domestic cricket tournament, has been embroiled in a fresh controversy involving star Indian cricketer Deepak Hooda. Hooda, who captains the Rajasthan team, has reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with certain selection decisions, leading to a tense situation within the team.According to a report in Sportstar, Hooda skipped a practice session on the eve of Rajasthan's match against Hyderabad in Jaipur. Sources close to the team revealed that there have been ongoing disagreements between Hooda, the ad hoc selection panel, and the coaching staff over player selection."This has been an issue since the start of the season," a source said. "There have been multiple disagreements over player selection between the ad hoc panel and the captain and coach. However, yesterday, things got a bit out of control as the captain, although he came for the practice session, continued to sit out. He was constantly on his phone, busy on calls with the ad hoc committee members and the Sports Minister (Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore)."The report also claimed that an ad hoc committee member threatened to resign over the selection dispute. The ad hoc panel is headed by Jaideep Bihan, with Ratan Singh as the convener and Pawan Goyal, Dharmveer Singh Shekhawat, and Harish Singh as members.Dharmveer Singh Shekhawat, a member of the ad hoc panel, defended the committee's decisions. "These things happen when there are a number of people trying to make a decision," he said. "The more the heads, more the opinions. It isn't wrong and it is not a controversy. The captain wanted wicketkeeper-batter Kunal Singh Rathore to continue despite the fact that he hasn't performed for a while now. He has hit only one fifty in his last three games."The controversy has cast a shadow over Rajasthan's Ranji Trophy campaign. The team has won two of its first three matches but has now been rocked by internal strife. It remains to be seen how the situation will be resolved and whether it will impact Rajasthan's performance in the tournament.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, one of India's most promising young batters, continues to face a puzzling lack of opportunities in the national team. Despite consistently scoring runs in domestic cricket, Gaikwad has been overlooked for selection in all three formats.His absence from the recent Bangladesh T20I series raised eyebrows, with suggestions that the selectors were prioritizing his red-ball prospects. However, Gaikwad's name was also missing from the squad announced for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.This snub has sparked outrage from former Indian cricketer Krisnamachari Srikkanth, who criticized the selection committee for its treatment of Gaikwad. Srikkanth questioned the logic behind overlooking a player who has been one of the top performers in domestic cricket."I don't understand it at all," Srikkanth said. "He scored two first-class centuries, but still didn't get a chance. He got scores to back him up. Where should that guy be going now?"Srikkanth also pointed out that Abhimanyu Easwaran, another domestic stalwart, had been selected for the Australia tour despite not having the same level of recent form as Gaikwad."Abhimanyu Easwaran's performance has been brilliant. I'm not questioning that," Srikkanth said. "But what are you doing with Ruturaj? Why aren't they twirling around with him? What's the plan?"The selection committee has instead named Gaikwad as the captain of the India A squad for the upcoming tour of Australia. It remains to be seen whether a strong performance in the India A side will earn Gaikwad a recall to the senior team.

After a protracted legal battle, the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) has finally announced a 20-member squad for the upcoming 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season. The team will face Haryana in their opening match on October 11 in Rohtak.The selection process was marred by controversy, with the Patna High Court appointing an ombudsman to oversee BCA affairs in August. The ombudsman subsequently reinstated Amit Kumar as BCA secretary and appointed a new selection committee. However, the High Court stayed its own order on October 8, nullifying the selection committee's decision.Amidst the power struggle between former BCA secretary Kumar and current president Rakesh Tiwari, two separate training camps were conducted in Patna. The latest decision brings some relief to Bihar cricketers, who were caught in the crossfire.The Bihar squad, selected by a committee led by Madhusudan Tantubhai, includes Veer Pratap Singh as captain and Shakibul Gani as vice-captain. The team faces a tough challenge in Group C, which also includes Bengal, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh.Bihar finished last in Group B in the 2023-24 season, with four defeats and three drawn games in seven matches. The team will be hoping for a better performance this season, with the aim of improving Bihar cricket's standing in the domestic circuit.

The Indian cricket team's abundance of talent has often made it challenging for players to maintain a consistent spot in the national squad. Rinku Singh and Ruturaj Gaikwad have recently fallen victim to this competition, with Singh being omitted from the T20 World Cup 2024 squad and Gaikwad not making the cut for the Sri Lanka tour.Despite their impressive performances, both batters have been overlooked due to team combinations and preferences for different player profiles. However, former India and Chennai Super Kings batter S Badrinath has expressed his dissatisfaction with these selection decisions.In a video shared on social media, Badrinath expressed shock and surprise at Gaikwad's exclusion from the Sri Lanka series. He questioned the selection criteria, suggesting that players may need to have connections with Bollywood actresses or body tattoos to be consistently picked."Sometimes it seems like you need a bad guy image when the likes of Rinku Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad and others are not selected for the Indian team. It seems that you need to be in a relationship with some Bollywood actresses, have a good media manager, and have body tattoos," Badrinath said in the video.Gaikwad was part of the Indian team for the Zimbabwe T20Is, where he scored 7, 77, and 49 before being rested for the fifth match. However, he was not included in the T20I squad for the Zimbabwe tour, with the selectors opting for Yashasvi Jaiswal instead. Rinku Singh, on the other hand, was selected for the team.Badrinath's comments have sparked a debate about the selection process for the Indian cricket team. While some have defended the selectors' decisions, others have questioned the fairness and transparency of the process.

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has hinted at revealing the internal conflicts and mismanagement within the national cricket team after the conclusion of the ongoing T20 World Cup. Afridi's comments come amidst growing criticism over Pakistan's selection process and team unity.During an interview on a local TV channel, Afridi expressed his frustration with the current state of affairs within the team. "He knows many things, and so do I, but we cannot talk openly. I will speak openly after the World Cup, our people themselves have spoiled this unit," Afridi said.Afridi's remarks echo the concerns raised by other former cricketers, including ex-PCB chairman Ramiz Raja and wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal. They have questioned the team's selection criteria and the lack of transparency in decision-making.Afridi also addressed the recent struggles of his son-in-law, Shaheen Afridi, who has faced criticism for his inconsistent performances. "If I talk about something, people will say that I am supporting my son-in-law, although I am not. If my daughter, son, or son-in-law are wrong, I will also call them wrong," Afridi stated.Shaheen's position in the team has been under scrutiny since he was removed from the T20I captaincy in April this year. He had initially been appointed as the white-ball captain after the 2023 ODI World Cup but was replaced by Babar Azam after just one series.Pakistan's performance in the T20 World Cup has further fueled the criticism. They suffered a shock defeat to the United States in their opening match and then lost to arch-rivals India in their second game. Their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals now hang in the balance.Afridi's comments have raised expectations that he will shed light on the internal issues plaguing the Pakistan cricket team. His revelations could have significant implications for the future of the team and the management responsible for its performance.

In the lead-up to the World Cup, Team India's chief selector Ajit Agarkar revealed that Rinku Singh's selection was a subject of intense debate. Agarkar explained that the committee prioritized a specific team combination, which ultimately left Rinku on the sidelines. Captain Rohit Sharma's preference for four spinners further limited the options for the selectors.However, this decision has raised eyebrows among experts and former players. Rinku Singh, a 26-year-old batter from Aligarh, has emerged as a reliable performer in high-pressure situations. His recent performances in the IPL and T20Is have showcased his ability to deliver under immense pressure.India's struggles in knockout matches at the World Cup have been well-documented. The team has failed to replicate its regular season form in these crucial games. Rinku Singh's inclusion could have provided a much-needed spark to the lower batting order, which has lacked a proven finisher.Rinku's statistics speak for themselves. In 15 T20Is, he has remained unbeaten in 7 innings, contributing invaluable runs in each of them. His strike rate of 176 and average of 89 are testament to his ability to accelerate the scoring rate.In crucial matches against Nepal, Australia, South Africa, and Afghanistan, Rinku has consistently delivered under pressure. His unbeaten 37 against Nepal, 31 against Australia, 46 against South Africa, and 68 against Afghanistan were all match-winning contributions.Despite his impressive form, Rinku was relegated to the reserves, while players with inferior recent performances were selected. This inconsistency in selection logic has raised questions about the decision-making process.The omission of Rinku Singh from the World Cup squad is a grave injustice. His ability to perform under pressure and his proven track record in high-stakes matches make him an invaluable asset to any team. India's chances of success at the World Cup would have been significantly enhanced with Rinku in the lineup.

Rinku Singh's omission from India's T20 World Cup squad has sent shockwaves through the cricketing fraternity. The 26-year-old slogger, who has emerged as a formidable finisher in recent times, was widely expected to make the cut. However, the selectors opted for a more experienced lineup, leaving Rinku on the sidelines.Rinku's family and friends in Aligarh were devastated by the news. They had eagerly awaited his inclusion in the squad and had prepared sweets and firecrackers to celebrate. His father expressed his disappointment, saying that Rinku was upset and had spoken to his mother after the announcement.Despite his omission, Rinku will still travel with the team to the Americas as part of the reserves. He will be joined by opener Shubman Gill and pacers Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed.Sources close to the selection meeting revealed that Rinku's exclusion was due to the Impact Player Rule. The rule allows teams to make a tactical substitution during the match, and the selectors felt that Rinku could not be accommodated alongside all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube.Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan and ex-Australia skipper Aaron Finch expressed surprise at Rinku's omission. However, legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar attributed it to his poor form in the ongoing IPL.Rinku's exclusion has sparked a debate about the balance of India's T20 squad. Some experts believe that the selectors have prioritized experience over form, while others argue that Rinku's omission is a missed opportunity to inject youth and dynamism into the team.As the T20 World Cup approaches, the spotlight will be on India's squad and their ability to perform under pressure. Rinku's omission may serve as a reminder that even the most talented players can be left out of major tournaments due to factors beyond their control.

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has expressed concerns over the selection process for the upcoming T20 World Cup, questioning the consistency and rationale behind the decisions made by the selectors.Pathan highlighted a shift in strategy, recalling that after India's disappointing performance in the last T20 World Cup, the management had decided to prioritize young players over experienced campaigners. However, he expressed surprise at the apparent reversal of this approach in the current squad selection, where experience seems to have taken precedence over youth.Pathan emphasized the importance of adhering to a consistent selection process, suggesting that while experience may be crucial, following a defined process could lead to better outcomes. He pointed out the absence of young talent like Rinku Singh from the squad, expressing disappointment over the exclusion of promising players and the potential impact on team dynamics.In contrast, cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar offered a different perspective, attributing Rinku's exclusion to his current form in the ongoing IPL. Gavaskar highlighted the dynamic nature of selection decisions and the importance of current performance.Pathan's concerns raise questions about the long-term vision and strategy of the Indian cricket team. The selectors' decision to prioritize experience over youth may be a short-term solution, but it could have implications for the team's future success. It remains to be seen whether the current squad will be able to deliver the desired results at the T20 World Cup, and whether the selection process will be reviewed and refined in the future.