A fresh controversy over alleged regional bias in sports team selection has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir, this time involving the Under-14 boys' cricket team. Following a similar uproar over the Santosh Trophy football squad, the Union Territory administration has now ordered an inquiry into the selection process for the cricket team set to represent J&K at the 69th National School Games.
Committee Formed to Scrutinize Selection Process
In response to allegations of irregularities and skewed representation against the Jammu region, J&K Director General Youth Services and Sports Anuradha Gupta has constituted a five-member inquiry committee. The panel is headed by Pankaj Sasan, a physical education lecturer and former national player.
The committee includes Mukesh Sharma, another national player, and three former domestic cricket players: Jagtar Singh, Arshad Bhat, and Paramjeet Singh. Notably, Sasan, Sharma, and Jagtar Singh are from the Jammu region. The panel's mandate is to "scrutinise score sheets and other relevant records to verify if the selection followed rules," according to an official order.
Allegations of Skewed Representation and Overage Players
The controversy stems from selection trials held in Budgam during the first week of November 2025. Sources indicate that the final list of 16 players, which surfaced on social media, featured only three athletes from the Jammu province. The disparity extended to the reserve list, where only one out of seven players was from Jammu.
Parents and critics have raised two primary allegations:
- Significant under-representation of players from the Jammu region in the selected squad.
- Possible inclusion of overage boys in the Under-14 category for the tournament.
The 69th National School Games for the 2025-26 season are scheduled to be held in Sikar, Rajasthan, from January 19 to 23, 2026.
A Pattern of Controversy and Political Undertones
This cricket inquiry comes barely a month after a major dispute surrounded the selection of the Jammu and Kashmir team for the national football Santosh Trophy. In that instance, 19 out of the 20 selected players were from the Kashmir Valley, sparking protests from the BJP and several right-wing organizations. J&K Sports Minister Satish Sharma had ordered an inquiry into that selection as well.
Political observers are connecting these consecutive sports controversies to a broader pattern of perceived regional divide. The incidents are seen alongside ongoing protests regarding admissions at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME). Analysts suggest these events point to a growing wedge between the Jammu and Kashmir regions since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and the division of the former state into two Union Territories.
In an attempt to foster unity, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reinstated the historic "Durbar Move" last year. This practice involves seasonally shifting the civil secretariat between Jammu and Srinagar. It was suspended in 2021. However, observers remain skeptical about whether this symbolic move has been effective in bridging regional sentiments, as evidenced by the recurring disputes in spheres like sports selection.
The newly formed committee's findings are now awaited to determine if the selection process for the U-14 cricket team was indeed flawed and whether corrective measures will be implemented to ensure fair representation for young athletes from both regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
