HPCA accused of ignoring Himachali cricketers

Dharamshala, Oct 27 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) has overlooked the claim of talented cricketers from the state while selecting its Ranji Cricket team, former HPCA officials and players today said.

Of the 16 players short-listed to represent the state in the Ranji tournament, 12 are from other states, while two are kin of the HPCA officials, association's former joint secretary Rajesh Kaushal, Una District Cricket Association general secretary Jaswant Rai and a former Ranji player Rajeev Nayar said at a joint press conference here.

They said talented cricketers from Himachal, including Umesh, Rajinder Thakur, Rajeev Nayar, Rahul Panta, Nishant and Vishal, have been ignored while selecting this year's Ranji team.

Despite a good performance last year by the team comprising these players, the HPCA has ignored their claim while selecting 12 players from other states, besides wards of the association members, they said.

The former HPCA officials said they would soon approach the Board for Cricket Control in India (BCCI) and present their case before it since the HPCA was hell bent on harming the interests of the state cricket team.

Himachal has no dearth of talented cricketers and there was no need to select players from other states, they added.

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