The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) otherwise established to act as a launching pad for the emerging and talented cricketers of Jammu and Kashmir, is becoming a virtual rehabilitation centre for the deadwood with nep- otism and partiality ruling the roost. Silence of the gov- ernment in rectifying the wrongs within the JKCA has led many veteran cricketers to believe that the helms- men have made the other- wise apolitical association a political hum wherein the vengeance and favours are done to sycophants and ri- vals. There are reports that several office bearers of the organisation are promoting their own kin and sports certificates are accorded to them with the sole aim of helping them to get a government job and other sops.
There are also reports that there is an ugly practice going on within the association wherein talented youth are dishonoured while the red carpet is laid out for the deadwood . Same is detrimental to the overall development of cricket in Jammu and Kashmir. Sources said that the selection of Ranji squad was not done above personal likings and club politics, and there was no preference towards the objective that to the field, the best possible playing-XI should be selected.
Even with the change of guard at the JKCA, nothing as per reports has changed. The club politics is ruling the roost while the internal bickering is at its peak. “At the end of the day, only cricket and cricketers suffer. It is a shame that JKCA is being allowed to run like ‘Saas-Bahu’ television drama serials whose USP is ‘Tu-Tu-Main-Main’,” was how one of the official described the situation. Contrary to the basic principle that JKCA should run like a professional sports body which will be renowned for taking right decisions at the right time while rising above all kinds of prejudices and biases, personal likings and disliking, the association has decayed due to the domination of politics.