Nepotism: Is the National Cricket Academy guilty?

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">N Shivlal Yadav, National Selector & Secretary, Hyderabad Cricket Association:No. The NCA is accountable to the BCCI; selection depends on performance.<br /><br />Former Indian captain Nari Contractor''s recent ouster as the Talent Resources Development Officer (TRDO) for West Zone by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) has snowballed into a major controversy, with the veteran cricketer alleging nepotism and favouritism in the selection of players.<br /><br />I think, this whole talk of favouritism in selections has to be stopped immediately. The selectors do a good job in picking up the best players. <br /><br />Every now and then someone cries hoarse but the selectors cannot please one and all. And those who find themselves left out always allege that something is amiss. <br /><br />I don''t believe there is any nepotism in the NCA selection process. The academy is making wonderful progress and many a youngster is being immensely benefited by the scientific coaching and training that is being imparted there.<br /><br />Coming to Contractor''s allegations. Why is Nari Contractor crying hoarse now? What was he doing all these days when he was in the NCA? He is making all this hue and cry just because he has been removed. <br /><br />There could be many a reason for his ouster. Maybe the NCA committee thought he was not doing his job properly and instead thought of taking in a younger man.<br /><br />Brijesh Patel alone cannot make decisions and overtly influence the selection process. He cannot act as a dictator. The NCA is part of the Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) and they are accountable to the top brass in the BCCI.<br /><br />The performance of a young player is what matters. No matter how much the father tries he cannot make a bad player into a good one. <br /><br />I believe Udit Patel has got the nod on the strength of his showing on the field. Maybe a cricketer''s son gets an early nod but then he has to do well on the field to retain his spot. The father cannot play for him. <br /><br />What I cannot understand is, why is there so much fuss about a cricketer''s son taking up the game. Why can''t he? It is but natural for the son to want to follow in his father''s footsteps. <br /><br />All along he has seen his father play and it definitely rubs off on him. If a film star''s son can become an actor, then why can''t a cricketer''s son play cricket? <br /><br />Look at Rohan Gavaskar. He has got runs behind him to merit his selection. If Sunil Gavaskar wanted to promote his son he could have done it when Rohan was much younger. But Sunil let his son earn his place. <br /><br />I think that these allegations of nepotism and favouritism are completely unjustified. <br /><br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">(As told to Solomon S Kumar)</span></div> </div>