For the national selectors, there’s little to choose from
SHIMOGA: Roger Binny and Saba Karim, the two national selectors in attendance on Wednesday, watched closely as familiar Indian faces squared off against a young West Indies ‘A’ outfit. With the season to begin shortly, these games are usually reserved for talent on the fringes of a national call-up.
Besides Cheteshwar Pujara, the pair of Parvez Rasool and Shami Ahmed, who have a long way to go before getting to the next level, the team is packed with players either too old to realistically play for India, or attempting a comeback. For selectors scouting talent, there’s little excitement in the offing.
PUSHED ASIDE
After the first ‘Test’ at Mysore, which India lost by 162 runs, potential India openers, at least on the basis of statistics and performance, Lokesh Rahul and Jiwanjit Singh, were forced to give up their places. They could have gained from the exposure against international bowlers. Also, a 32-year-old Mohammad Kaif ’s comeback has cost the most prodigious batting talent in the country, Manpreet Juneja, his place. Juneja, with a first-class average of 79, will now play the Duleep Trophy — which doesn’t start for a week.
Ishwar Pandey, who did well on the South Africa ‘A’ tour, had to give up his place to Abhishek Nayar (who is playing as firstchange seamer). Again, a promising youngster lost his place Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan are capable of mak ing Test comebacks, are these matches, played on flat pitches against another country’s third string attack, serving a purpose?
Of the West Indies squad assembled here, only Narsingh Deonarine (30), Nikita Miller (31) and Fidel Edwards (31) are on the wrong side of 30. The Indian side consists of five 30-plus players and two are nearing 30. These matches are rarely about results The players will be the first to admit it. They are here to make an impact. But what exactly can Binny and Karim figure out from