Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court on Wednesday issued notices to sports authorities after a teenager from Mehsana filed a petition over his non-selection for an Under-17 cricket pre-national camp to be held in Telangana. The camp is being held for the selection of the national team.The minor, through his father, challenged the legality and validity of the authorities’ decision not to select him for the men’s cricket team following the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) U-17 Cricket (pre-national) selection camp held in Ahmedabad.Petitioner’s counsel, Pratik Jasani, submitted that the boy, an all-rounder who also keeps wickets, was well suited for the team. He participated in the selection camp in Ahmedabad, but his candidature was rejected without any on-field assessment. He was not informed of his shortcomings, nor were any reasons provided for the selection of other candidates among the 62 who participated in the camp held from April 9 to 23.The petitioner was asked to leave the camp after just four days. Those selected will participate in the national team selection camp in Telangana, scheduled from April 26 to May 1.The petitioner alleged that the Gujarat selection committee’s action was “illegal per se and tainted with mala fides”. It was argued that the selection process was arbitrary, non-transparent, and conducted without any on-field trials, skill assessment, or fitness evaluation at the pre-national camp level.It was further submitted that candidates were made to sit in an office for most of the time, asked a few questions, and then asked to leave without any on-field testing. This process, it was argued, was inconsistent with any recognised selection method.The petitioner has sought directions from the high court to the authorities to disclose the reasons for his non-selection, place on record the complete score sheets, evaluation sheets, and criteria applied during the assessment process, if any such process was undertaken.Justice H M Prachchhak sought a response from the sports authorities by May 1, when the matter will be heard next.
