State cricketer finds place in Team India
After Deepak Chahar, another pace bowler from Rajasthan, Khalil Ahmed, has been selected for the Indian team.
Khalil, 20, has been selected for the Asia Cup, which will be held in UAE in September.
The senior selection committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 16-member Indian team for the Asia Cup on Saturday.
Earlier, pacer Deepak Chahar was selected for the T20 Indian team against England recently.
Reacting over his selection, Khalil told Hindustan Times over phone from Tonk, “The news came as a shock to me because I did not expect to be selected in the team so early.”
“I am excited to be part of the team because I have seen Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s discussion with bowlers during matches. I am excited to hear what he discusses with them and how he guides them,” he said.
“I feel no pressure, but it would be challenging for me to perform well in Asia Cup. I know that good performance can open the door for me in Test team,” the medium pacer said.
“There are flat wickets in UAE and I have no experience of bowling
JAIPUR:
on that type of wicket. So, I would go for practice either to Jaipur or to Bangalore. I have some time to practice on flat wickets,” he added.
Khalil, who was part of the Under-19 World Cup winning team, said that former Team India skipper and coach Rahul Dravid always motivated him. “He never pressures us during the match.”
Khalil, who performed well for India A taking seven wickets in three matches, said that Zaheer Khan too guided him a lot on bowling techniques.