The job of cricket selectors just got a little easy

A CNN-IBN report says the Punjab government, bolstered obviously by the Centre’s unshakable resolve on the OBC reservation issue, is planning to introduce 25 per cent reservation in sports selections at the district and state level. Simply put, it means one out of every four spots in any team will be reserved, like it or leave it.

Punjab Sports Minister, Gulzar Singh Ranike, has been quoted as saying: “The backward classes have played an important part in all revolutions and so they should be give a chance.” Good move, bad move, what? And what next? Reservations in the cricket and hockey teams? In the Olympics, Asiad , Commonwealth squads?

It can be rightly argued that the backward classes were given the short shrift in education and employment? But have they really been kept out of sport?