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While Bihar was selecting its T20 squad for the season, it was Sooryavanshi who called the shots, with the BCCI-appointed selection panel, led by Harvinder Singh and comprising Sridharan Sharath and Amitabh Vijayvargiya, reduced to mere spectators, sources told CricBlogger.
According to sources, 118 players appeared for the trials, including members of Bihar’s current Ranji Trophy team. However, several players who impressed during the open-net trials were allegedly not given due consideration.
On the third day of the trials, Sooryavanshi arrived and sat alongside the selectors. Sources described the situation as one in which the young cricketer appeared to be chairing the meeting, seemingly reflecting the influence his newfound stardom has brought him.
Sources further alleged that Sooryavanshi pushed for the inclusion of his own friends at the expense of other deserving candidates — a practice that, unfortunately, is not uncommon in cricket selection processes across the country. When CricBlogger attempted to contact Sooryavanshi for his comments on the allegations, he was unavailable for a response.
The Indian board had constituted a separate selection committee following the appointment of Justice Ashwani Kumar Singh as Bihar’s administrator. “Some former local cricketers were actively involved in coordinating with the appointed selectors,” a source familiar with the developments said.
Sooryavanshi has been named captain of the Bihar team for the first two matches of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His influence among the team management was allegedly so strong that an additional player was included in the 16-member squad, a source claimed.
