Return
to Story Page
To print: Select File and then Print from your
browser's menu
Rohit Joshi
VADODARA, SEPT 17: Mohammed Kaif (UP) and Vijay Bharadwaj (Karnataka) are the two new faces in the Ajay Jadeja-led Indian team for the Kenyan quadrangular from September 25-October 3 announced after the selection committee meeting here on Friday.
The championship features India, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
Kaif, a promising middle order bat, and Bharadwaj, the highest run-getter last Ranji season, replace Amay Khurasia and Vinod Kambli from the team that toured Toronto. Maharashtra all-rounder Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Delhi seamer Amit Bhandari have also been axed -- the latter without being played.
Vadodara batsman Jacob Martin and wicket-keeper MSK Prasad (Andhra Pradesh) have been retained in the team of 14 that has three medium-pacers, three spinners, a wicket-keeper and seven batsmen.
Announcing the team, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary JY Lele said Nayan Mongia and Jadeja had submitted fitness certificates. Sachin Tendulkar had declared his unavailability andAzharuddin was reported unfit.
``Mongia's name came up for discussion, but since Prasad had performed extremely well, the committee thought he should be continued,'' selection committee chairman Ajit Wadekar said explaining the retention of Prasad.
The same yardstick was not applied for the captaincy. Though Wadekar agreed that Saurav Ganguly had performed well as stand-in captain in Toronto, Jadeja was brought in at the helm as he was originally named Tendulkar's deputy.
The chairman added, ``If you take performance as the criteria, Jadeja did not perform too badly either in Sharjah when he stood in for Tendulkar (who had to skip two matches owing to his back problem).''
On Azhar's fitness, Lele said: ``Azhar has said very clearly that he cannot throw the ball beyond 30 yards and that he can field only in the slips or close-in positions. He has said that if total fitness is considered, then he is not fit.''
About Kambli and Khurasia, Wadekar said they had been given ``ample opportunities, but hadnot performed up to expectations.''
Dropped or rested?
A slight difference of opinion between the chairman of selectors and the board secretary came to the fore when they were asked about the exact status of Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble. While both agreed that Srinath was being rested, Lele categorically said that Kumble had been dropped, and Wadekar, who first said he was being rested, reluctantly added, ``he had been dropped but at the same time he is being rested''.
Wadekar said the team for Kenya was selected with a view to ``building a team for the future and to give a chance to youngsters who have played well in domestic cricket''. Which is why Kaif and Bharadwaj were selected. ``They are extremely talented youngsters and have done very well at the domestic level, what they need now is some encouragement. We have already started doing well, we won a series, the future is very bright,'' he said.
Regarding the appointment of a physiotherapist, Lele said it would be decided at the generalbody meeting to be held in Jaipur on September 21.
The team leaves for Kenya on September 22 from Mumbai.
The Team
Ajay Jadeja (captain), Saurav Ganguly (vice-captain), Sadagoppan Ramesh, Rahul Dravid, Jacob Martin, Robin Singh, Mohammed Kaif, MSK Prasad, Nikhil Chopra, Sunil Joshi, Vijay Bharadwaj, Venkatesh Prasad, Debashis Mohanty, Laxmi Ratan Shukla. Coach: Anshuman Gaekwad.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
------------------------------------------------------------
This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
------------------------------------------------------------