Mumbai’s new strategy against favoritism sets example

A career in cricket is considered one of the best these days as more and more avenues are opening up every now and again. The competition is at an all-time high with a few using their connections to get a look in, especially in junior cricket. Mumbai has adopted a strategy to eradicate biases at the junior level.

Recently, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) organised a four-day preliminary trial for the age group of 12 and below which ended on Sunday. The candidates were allotted a number batch which was used to identify each one of them instead of their names. The selectors handed over their mobile phones to the moderators appointed by the board while the trials were in process.

This was a smart move by the MCA to cut down on favouritism in cricket. The joint secretary of MCA, PV Shetty, spoke to the Indian Express and said that the focus was to keep the selection process as transparent as possible. “By giving numbers to players, we have tried to eliminate all bias. There could be a case of a selector getting influenced by a phone call from a coach or a powerful figure. The new system will also neutralise any attempt to pick a cricketer based on club, caste or regional basis,” said Shetty.

The idea was introduced by former Test cricketer and MCA’s director of coaching Chandrakant Pandit. He said that he received a lot of complaints from parents about kids getting through the selection process due to their connections with someone in MCA.

”Many parents had complained before that some players were picked because they had done some jugad (arrangement), or because they knew that man in the MCA or that coach. With this process, we will be able to satisfy parents that the selection is done purely on merit,” said Pandit.

After the four-day selection process, a bunch of 25 boys will be picked from each of the four selection centers to report at the Bandra Kurla complex ground. The four teams will then play trial matches against each other to define their ability in a game situation. Even in the trial matches, the candidates will be identified by numbers even in the scorecard of the games. Post the games, a final squad of 25 kids will be picked by a fresh MCA committee comprising of under-14 selectors.

This is a great drive initiated by the MCA and the other boards must follow suit. Mumbai wants to groom the junior cricketer’s talent as they are the future of the city.

“The idea is to get good talent and nurture it. Boys who are 10-11 years old are the base, and if Mumbai’s base is strong, the future will naturally be good. But all credit should go to the MCA and the volunteers who are making this selection possible. It’s a tough job,” said Pandit. Over 1,000 cricketers turned up for the first day of trials on Thursday.