Star cricketer Abid Nabi on Friday questioned the selection process followed by the selectors to choose the J&K One-Day team for the upcoming Vijay Hazare trophy, alleging that selectors had made up their mind in advance about selecting the players.
The 32-Year old pacer who was once considered as top cricketer of the state has not found a place in the J&K team for a longtime.
Not dejected by the regular snubs, Abid this year too made himself available for the selection and went on to attend selection trials and the related trials matches in Jammu. Abid had not previously made it to this year’s J&K Ranji and T20 teams. But this time he was hopeful of being given enough chances to make his case for the selection.
“I don’t mind being dropped but what hurts is not been given the chance to prove. J&K Cricket Association (JKCA) have now wasted my six years and it is all due some outside influence that bars them from giving me a chance. Drop me but at least allow me to play properly in trial matches. If I fail then I will have no regret of missing the team bus,” Abid told Greater Kashmir .
“I should have made it to J&K T20 team but I was not selected. I said nothing and went for One Day format trials. What I noticed is that only after having bowled two overs selectors were dictating terms to captain and asking him to change me. In trial matches selectors should not dictate terms from outside but should just sit and watch players give out their best for selection,” he said.
He alleged that selectors had decided well in advance not to select him. “They don’t care about my performance in trials and instead tried their best not to allow me to perform. On selectors instructions from outside I was changed only after two overs well before getting into rhythm. In no match I did bowl more than six overs. Same they did with my batting, sending me at No 10 or 9. I saw SP Qaiser and Druv Mahajan giving instructions to team skippers during trial matches from outside,” he said.
Abid Nabi last played for J&K in T20 format in March last year in which he took two wickets in the only match he played. Before that he had represented State in T20 format in 2014. “Look at my stats and then decide for yourself. Last year I played one T20 match and took two wickets. Then I was not given match to play. Before that I was selected for team in 2014 and I finished with 7 wickets and 84 runs from five T20 matches. Even after that I was dropped from next team. For them it doesn’t matter whether I perform or not they just wanted to drop me and same continues till date,” he said.
About his fitness issues he said, “I think I am in best shape of my life currently and will pass any fitness test. But again it is about given proper chance and not having made their mind in advance”.
CONSIDERS PLAYING FOR OTHER STATE
Abid Nabi said that he is considering to play for some other state next season and would applying for No Objection Certificate from JKCA. “I have got some years of cricket left in me. While Jammu based selectors protect their players, our Kashmir based selectors are there to ruin it. JKCA wasted my prime 6-years and now I will try to give myself chance by playing for some other state. For that I will be applying for the NOC with JKCA,” he said.
“After getting cold shoulder during trials I tried to contact JKCA CEO but I couldn’t reach him. There seems no way to communicate with him. My only hope now is NOC, for which I will be applying shortly,” he added.