Selectors have done a just job

By Our Special Correspondent

VADODARA, APRIL 23. The national selectors are a happy lot these days. They can claim to have played a significant role in India's 2-1 win over Australia and a reasonably good showing in five one- day internationals.

In the beginning of the series against Australia and after the defeat in the first Test, they received flak for picking some one like Narendra Hirwani and dropping Rahul Sanghvi. But the win in the second Test in Kolkata and the turn of events thereafter have only made them smile and feel satisfied. It has generally been a good time for them what with the Indian team winning both the home Test series against Zimbabwe and Australia.

The five selectors and the captain Sourav Ganguly met here on Sunday and chose 26 players from whom the team will be picked for the Zimbabwe's tour. It can be said that they have done a just job in retaining almost all the players who figured in the series against Zimbabwe and Australia. The senior and experienced players whom they did not pick are allrounder Robin Singh and seamer Venkatesh Prasad.

In the latter's case, Mr. Chandu Borde offered an explanation saying he was ``seriously discussed for the one-day series'', but he was not chosen for the camp because the selectors have seen him enough. Prasad was picked for the second Test against Australia, but he dropped thereafter. He did not play in any of the five one-day internationals.

There was no word from Mr. Borde about Robin Singh, but after talking in general about the basis of selection of the probables he added a rider to it saying that the committee may still select players (for Zimbabwe) who have not been picked for the camp in Bangalore. This was a vague statement.

Taken on face value, Mr. Borde was trying to convey that there are players who are not good to be picked for the camp, but are be good to be chosen for the tour to Zimbabwe or Sri Lanka. If one goes by Mr. Borde's statements, it appears that players like Nayan Mongia, Prasad and Robin Singh can be harbour hopes of getting a recall.

The selectors' search for allrounders have not taken them beyond Reetinder Singh Sodhi and Virender Sehwag. Both have played one- day internationals. Perhaps Railways' Sanjay Bangar -- who bowls medium pace and is an opening batsman -- has not found favour with the selectors. Or was it a case of Bangar being included in the 26 and then scratched to accommodate batsman Dinesh Mongia. Bangar may not straightaway find a place in the fifteen, but he has the potential to develop into an allrounder.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : An interesting day's play on the cards
Next     : Optimistic Indian team departs for UAE