The recent outburst by Mumbai’s selection committee chairman against international players who represented the team in Ranji Trophy matches must have sent tremors of unease through the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) administration. While an analysis of the star players’ performance may not match their standing at the international level, questioning their ethic is unbecoming of the chairman. I dare say that a scrutiny of the selection process over the past year would raise even more questions.

The selectors experimented with four wicketkeepers in the season (Siddhant Aadhhathrao, Prasad Pawar, Hardik Tamore and Aakash Anand) and are yet to find one capable of keeping wickets for a five-day Ranji Trophy match. Moreover, they seem indecisive about incorporating young fast bowlers into the playing XI, persisting with tired legs instead. And what became of a fast bowler who was thrust into the playing XI in one of the away games late last year? The last I heard of him was that he was not even in the playing XI for his club.