BCCI says team management will have to explain why the fast bowler was played in the 3rd Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
MUMBAI: The Indian cricket team, reaching the city late on Sunday night, will have to do a lot of explaining. It will not just be for their lacklustre performance on the field but also for the decisions, particularly selection decisions during the tour, in which the team lost both the Test and the ODI series.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India, understandably disappointed with the performance of the team, particularly in the just-concluded third Test, says it is unhappy with the selection decisions of the team management. Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary, said the Board is disappointed with the team management’s decision to play Munaf Patel in the crucial third Test.
“Munaf looked clearly out of his elements. His fitness was doubtful. How was he allowed to play the Test?” asked the Board secretary, clarifying that an answer to this query will be sought from the tour selection committee. He also disclosed that the Maharashtra pacer would be put through fitness tests before he is declared eligible for selection. The tour selection committee consists of captain Rahul Dravid, vice-captain VVS Laxman, coach Greg Chappell and selection committee chairman Dilip Vengsarkar. Munaf, in fact, had bowled only one over in India’s second innings of the third Test, which India lost by five wickets.
Munaf, who was injured during the 2nd ODI in Durban on November 22, was out of action for nearly 40 days, before he came in place of VRV Singh for the Cape Town Test. At one stage, there was even a talk of Munaf being sent back home along with Irfan Pathan. The Board had even announced his replacement — Delhi’s Ishant Sharma - before Vengsarkar had a change of mind.
The team management will meet the board officials in Rajkot on January 12 for the selection of the 30 probables for the World Cup.
Shah once again said that the board would like the selectors to revisit the position of Virender Sehwag in the team. “He is a good player in bad form. He has to regain his form by playing in the Ranji Trophy,” Shah said denying that the former vice-captain is being targeted by the Board for his outspokenness. “Any player’s outspokenness is not an issue with the Board,” Shah said, insisting that the selectors should review his performance before he picking him for the team again.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}