Salil Ankola vehement in defence for 100-plus player selection trials at BKC

Chief selector Salil Ankola

Members of Mumbai Cricket Association's Apex Council have made their displeasure known over the manner in which the first two days of the selection trials were conducted at the Bandra-Kurla Complex ground.

The fact that as many as 104 cricketers were invited for the February 1-2 camp has not gone down well with the Apex members, who have written individual letters to the MCA office-bearers.

While chief selector Salil Ankola defended the move to have that large a number, it has come to light that 20 odd players turned up uninvited. After the trials, the selectors picked three teams for practice games before selecting the Mumbai squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy (50-over cricket).

‘It was pathetic'

Apex Council member Amit Dani, was shocked. "I witnessed the selection process for the two days at BKC and it was pathetic," he wrote to the MCA office bearers.
Dani, a former Mumbai all-rounder, stated in the communication that the scene was akin to the MCA summer camp selection trials - open for all - and many players did not deserve to be there.

Another Apex Council member, Kaushik Godbole, brought to MCA's notice that Maharashtra's first-class player Prayag Bhati was selected without allegedly serving the mandatory cooling off period to be eligible to play for Mumbai. "I make an earnest request to you to kindly inform selectors to exclude Prayag Bhati and include a local Mumbai cricketer as a replacement," Godbole stated in his email.

Apex Council member Khodadad Yazdegardi has requested an urgent meeting regarding the players selected for the trials. The meeting is scheduled for Monday.

Meanwhile, Ankola justified the decision to shortlist 104 players. "We had very short time to see players before the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament as we got the permission quite late from the state government. This time, since we had a bit more time, I was keen to see each and every player. I am very clear that I will not select any player whom I have not seen. It is my problem to see 104 players. I don't understand why there is an objection to it," Ankola told mid-day on Thursday.

Selectors shocked too

When asked about the 20 extra players turning up for the trials, Ankola said: "Even we [selectors] were shocked to see that happen. I have brought it to the MCA's notice and have told them that this should not happen."

MCA secretary Sanjay Naik said:"We have appointed three Apex Council members - Godbole, Dani and Kiran Powar - all cricketers, as observers at BKC. I will not comment till they put out anything in their observations," Naik said.