Sheldon Jackson, the veteran Saurashtra batter, has opened his heart out after being snubbed from the West Zone team for the upcoming Duleep Trophy tournament, which came after he was not picked for India A squad which was announced recently for the upcoming series against New Zealand A in September.
Despite being a regular performer in domestic cricket, the right-hander did not find his name in the squad for the Duleep Trophy tournament which is making its comeback after a hiatus.
After a heart-wrenching tweet in which he called out the selectors, Sheldon Jackson now has spoken more about the same in an interview with Sportstar.
"Many times I have heard that he is a frustrated cricketer who is venting out his angst. I am a very happy cricketer and a happy person who has a loving family to go back to. I enjoy my life and I feel asking questions for which we don’t get answers is justified as a professional. That doesn’t have anything to do with my space of mind," he told Sportstar.
Jackson, who averages more than 50 in first-class cricket and plies his trade for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, further talked about his non-selection in the West Zone team.
“I’m 35 not 75,” tweets Sheldon Jackson after not getting picked in India ‘A’ squad
"If I am thinking of playing for the country and I am not even picked for the Duleep Trophy because someone feels I am too old, how am I going to reach over there? I was expecting to get picked for India A. There’s nothing wrong in expecting it, and you don’t pick me for Duleep Trophy is inexplicable. As a professional, you always strive to upgrade yourself to a higher level. It’s demoralizing when it’s stalled for reasons beyond my control," Jackson said.
He also pointed out that the age-old excuse of being over age due to him being 35 years old is blatantly irrelevant as one-fourth of the domestic cricketers, who are in their thirties currently, would be shattered to hear that they won't be considered for selection just because of their age.
"Why is age even a criterion to get picked? If it is, they are taking away the dreams of at least 25 to 30 percent of domestic cricketers who are in their mid-30s. I am not being the voice for them but I am speaking myself. You cannot stop someone from dreaming of playing at a higher level. I have been advocating this for quite a long time now.
Now when I am 35, I am being tagged as old but I have been hearing this since I was 31. Now they have picked more than six who are older than 30, so how is it justified then? Back then, I was told no one above 30 was picked. But when a performer is picked for the country in his mid-30s based on his performance, why isn’t it adopted for domestic cricket? I think it’s just become a ploy to not pick someone. When you don’t really have any other reason, you cite his age," he added.
(Sportstar inputs)
