Though the stress would be clearly on having youngsters, Shastri said he was not ruling out role of the seniors, especially in Test matches.
NEW DELHI: Even though he refused to call it end of all roads for the senior cricketers, Team India's interim manager Ravi Shastri dropped enough hints that he would carry forward predecessor Greg Chappell's 'go-young' policy in the forthcoming Bangladesh tour.
"You need to look at youth. There is a shelf period for everything. I believe if the young guns have to be given a chance that has to happen on the tour of Bangladesh. I think the tour would be the right opportunity to test young talents," Shastri said.
"There's a heck of a lot of cricket that's going to be played by India in the next 12 months. So if you want to give the youngsters an opportunity, then do it early, do it on this trip to Bangladesh and see what comes out of it," the former captain said.
Though the stress would be clearly on having youngsters, Shastri said he was not ruling out role of the seniors, especially in Test matches.
"When you play the Test matches, you'll obviously be trying to play with your strongest side. So it's not that the seniors are out of it totally. But I would like to see youngsters being given opportunities, and see what happens."
Though he advocated experiments in the Bangladesh tour, Shastri warned against underestimating the neighbours, especially after their show in the World Cup.
"I'm not saying Bangladesh is weak. They have thrashed South Africa. They have laid India low in this World Cup, so you can never take them lightly," he said.
Shastri said he knew his brief and would try his best.
"I make no promises. I want India to play happily. I would prefer taking one step at a time. I am an optimist and like to concentrate only on the positives and not the negative sense. I am very clear in my mind that I am here only for a couple of months. Meanwhile, the Board can think of some alternatives. The support staff chosen for the tour of England would do the rest," he said.
Shastri also said that he would like to help sort out the rift, if any, between senior and junior players.
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