Lahore Regional Cricket Association (LRCA) and its three affiliated zones have urged the Pakistan Cricket Board to include Lahore’s notable performers of domestic tournaments in the national senior and junior teams.
“In recent selections of Pak senior and junior teams our most budding players have been left out which has created a lot of disappointment not only among the players but also in LRCA,” said President, LRCA, Khawaja Nadim Ahmad and Tauqir Ali Shah, President, West Zone, Kamil Shah, President, East Zone and Mian Mubeen Ahmad, President North Zone in a joint statement.
Kh Nadim was quoted by Associated Press of Pakistan that Lahore’s most successful run getter, Usman Salahuddin has immense cricket talent but despite doing so good, sadly, he could not get the nod of the selectors in the Pak team named for the tour of Sri Lanka. Similarly Lahore’s upcoming off spinner Rohail Ali could not get a place in the list of probables announced for the Jr World Cup.
“If a player of Usman’s caliber is not considered then what is the aim of playing cricket and excelling in the domestic tournaments and what attraction is left for the youngsters to play cricket,” questioned LRCA Chief requesting the PCB authorities and the national selectors to induct fresh blood in the team for its rebuilding to secure a better tomorrow of Pakistan in cricket at international level.
Usman stuck 1622 runs in all the three formats of domestic tournament with an average of 81.25 percent, hitting seven centuries and eight half centuries, remaining the top scorer of one day national tournament.
Rohail while representing ZTBL in inter region U19 tournament captured 22 wickets off 684 balls and took three wickets in trials matches for selection of probables and Faisal Tahir who took 15 wickets in 987 balls from Karachi Blues was preferred over talented Rohail. Interestingly Tahir remained wicket less in the trial matches.
