Parents question absence of camp for 25 shortlisted players; only three Jammu players make 16-member contingent
Jammu Tawi, October 26: The selection of players for the Jammu and Kashmir contingent for the 70th National School Games U-19 Boys Cricket Championship 2026–27 has triggered questions over regional representation and the fairness of the selection process due to lack of transparency, with some parents questioning why all shortlisted players were not given an opportunity to prove their mettle at a pre-selection or assessment camp.
According to the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports, Jammu and Kashmir, the national championship will be held at Gadarwara in Narsinghpur district of Madhya Pradesh from November 11 to 17. The selected contingent will comprise 16 players and two officials.
As per the official order, the selected players and officials have been directed to report to the Sports Training Centre/Trekking Base Camp at Nagrota on November 2 for a pre-event coaching camp under the supervision of the District Youth Services and Sports Officer, Jammu.
The contingent is scheduled to leave for Madhya Pradesh on November 8. Arif Hussain Mir, Physical Education Lecturer at Government Girls Model Higher Secondary School, Anantnag, has been designated as manager, while Mukesh Sharma, Physical Education Teacher posted in Jammu district, will accompany the team as coach.
However, the selection has raised concerns among some parents after the number of players from Jammu reportedly fell from seven in an initial list of 25 to just three in the final 16-member squad, while 13 players from Kashmir were selected. The selection process remain subjective and arbitrary in the absence of a transparent process and official simply attribute the selection to the past performance of the selected players.
Parents question selection process
Some parents have questioned why a camp or a structured assessment opportunity was not organised for all 25 shortlisted players before finalising the squad. They argue that if selection is based on performance, every shortlisted player should be given a fair opportunity to demonstrate his ability under comparable conditions.
“If performance is the main criterion, why were all 25 players not called for a camp where their skills, fitness and match performance could be assessed? A player can only prove himself when he is given an opportunity to participate and perform,” parents questioned.
They further asked whether participation and performance are sufficient to earn selection or whether other factors influence the process. Their concerns, they said, were not aimed at questioning the ability of any selected player but at seeking clarity on the procedure followed to finalise the team.
The initial list of 25 players, whose names have been circulated as the inter-district final selection list, includes players from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the available information does not establish whether all 25 underwent the same assessment, whether further trials were conducted or what performance parameters were applied before the final squad was announced.
Parents and sports observers have therefore called for the authorities to explain the basis on which the list was reduced from 25 to 16 and to clarify whether all eligible players were given equal opportunities to compete for a place in the contingent. A back-channel report signals that some beneficiaries of the selection are now influencing the directorate to skip even the camp scheduled for Nov 02..
Jammu’s representation under scrutiny
The reported regional distribution has also revived concerns over Jammu’s representation in selections for major sporting events. According to sources, seven players from Jammu and 18 from Kashmir figured in the initial list of 25, but only three players from Jammu made it to the final squad, compared with 13 from Kashmir.
The regional figures alone do not establish that the selection was unfair. A proper assessment would require access to trial records, individual performance data, selection criteria and details of the opportunities provided to all candidates. Nevertheless, the difference has raised questions that the concerned authorities may need to address through a transparent explanation.
The issue also raises a broader question about the development of cricketing talent in Jammu. Parents and stakeholders argue that young players who show an interest in sports and work hard to improve their performance need encouragement, fair competition and confidence that selection decisions are based on clearly defined criteria and not interfered under influence.
Concern over youth and sports opportunities
The concerns have acquired added significance amid wider anxieties about young people drifting towards drug abuse and other harmful influences. Parents believe that sports can provide discipline, direction and a constructive avenue for young people, but opportunities must be supported by credible selection procedures and adequate coaching facilities.
They fear that if aspiring players begin to believe that performance alone may not be enough to earn selection, it could weaken their motivation and confidence. For a young sportsperson, they argue, being given a fair chance to compete is as important as the final result.
The questions are therefore not limited to the selection of one cricket team. They concern the credibility of the sports system, the quality of grassroots talent identification and whether promising players from every region are being given a meaningful opportunity to progress.
Authorities urged to clarify
The issue calls for the attention of the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports and the concerned selection authorities. Parents and sports stakeholders have urged the administration to make the selection criteria clear, explain the process through which the final squad was formed and ensure that future selections are supported by documented performance assessments.
They have also called upon Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to look into the concerns surrounding sports opportunities for Jammu’s youth and ensure that the selection process inspires confidence across the Union Territory.
The central question, they say, is whether every eligible player is being assessed fairly and whether merit is being judged through a transparent and consistent process. A clear response from the authorities would help dispel doubts, protect the credibility of the selection system and reassure young cricketers that dedication and performance can open doors to opportunities at the national level.