Allegations of regionalism in Bengal squad

Allegations of regionalism have cropped up regarding the selection of the Bengal under-19 squad. A group of officials at the Cricket Association of Bengal today alleged that two promising cricketers had been dropped simply because they were outstation players who had settled in Bengal. The officials also stated that the decision to drop medium pacer Samad Akhtar and wicket keeper Ritesh Jaiswal had been done on the behest of the CAB joint secretary Nirmal Mukherjee. The latter had taken such a step with intentions of promoting local players, it is said.

It should be added here that both these players were in the squad in Bengal's last two matches against Tripura and Orissa. A group of officials are now wanting to know as to why these two have been dropped from the squad. There was no official comment available from either the selectors or from Nirmal Mukherjee.