LAHORE: The cricket coaches from the University of the Punjab (UP) and Central University of Punjab (UCP) have raised concerns over what they claim is a flawed selection process for the Higher Education Commission (HEC) cricket team, set to compete in the upcoming Patron’s Trophy First-Class tournament, starting Wednesday. The coaches have called on both the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the chairman of the HEC to investigate the matter and take appropriate action. UCP coach Akhtar Mumtaz Butt, speaking at a press conference on Monday, stated that both UCP and UP had performed well in the recent inter-varsity cricket tournament in Peshawar, with UCP finishing second and UP securing third place. Following the tournament, 33 players were invited to attend the final selection trials. However, Akhtar pointed out that the trials were held in Karachi instead of Peshawar or Islamabad, where the HEC’s head office is located. “But when the trials were held in Karachi, 70 to 80 players showed up, and surprisingly, many of those who had not participated in any of the inter-varsity matches were selected for the final squad of 20,” Akhtar explained. UP coach Mudassar echoed these concerns, adding that some selections appeared questionable. “Among the selected players is Faham-ul-Haq, the son of Pakistan’s former captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who did not play a single match in the inter-varsity tournament nor had any notable performances in other domestic events. Yet, he has made the final squad.” The coaches have raised alarms over the selection of at least eight players who did not feature in the inter-varsity matches, suggesting that merit had been overlooked in favor of other factors. “We protested to the HEC chairman about this issue, but our concerns went unheard. Now, we are appealing to the PCB chairman to take notice of the situation,” said the coaches. Akhtar, who is a well-respected domestic cricket organiser and coach, also highlighted doubts surrounding the semi-final match between Peshawar and Bahawalpur universities. He questioned how Peshawar University, the eventual winner, managed to score 52 runs in the final two overs of their innings, leading to suspicions about the fairness of the contest. “We request the PCB to investigate this matter as the matches were officiated by umpires appointed by the board,” he urged. The coaches warned that if the current pattern of non-merit-based selections persists, private universities may be discouraged from maintaining their cricket teams, as the sport requires significant funding. This, they believe, could hinder the development of young talent who are eager to pursue both academic and sporting careers. The coaches also criticised the PCB’s policy of allowing players who have participated in its domestic tournaments to be eligible for selection in the HEC cricket team, further questioning the integrity of the selection process.