Injuries to players who will have pivotal roles to play in the World Cup and the need to strike the right balance vis-a-vis youth and experience, not to speak of inconsistent form of established stars, are factors which make the task so much more difficult when the selectors sit down to shortlist the 16 (plus four reserves) for Utrecht on the morrow.

Four years ago, the selectors took a risk in sending a predominantly young side for the Sydney World Cup, with as many as 10 changes from the 1992 Olympic squad which had a couple of passengers whose injuries the selectors were only too well aware of.

India finished a creditable fifth in Sydney under coach Cedric D'Souza who harped on ball possession while compromising on traditional flair and flamboyance. The team then played a most "un-Indian hockey" which raised the hackles of thetraditionalists.

Cedric had barely a week with the team prior to its departure to Sydney, in contrast to 1990 when his predecessor MP Ganesh had already a long run with the side.

In the present instance, Vasudevan Baskaran has not had sufficient time with team. The coach has always stressed the need for a longish camp in between tournaments to iron out deficiencies. He was put in charge in strange circumstances, which only the federation can explain, hardly 48 hours before the first Test of the series against the touring Germans in January. Since then, it has been a sequence of travel and competition when there was a crying need for a break and assessment.

For instance, it is debatable whether participation in the Colorado Cup in Australia instead of utilising the time for a training camp, was justifiable.

However, with there being no accountability on part of the federation for its actions, it would be fruitless to pursue the subject.

Reverting to team selection for Utrecht, logic dictates a biasfor experience rather than youth. After all, World Cup and the Olympics are a different ball game than a Test series or a four-nation competition or even the Champions Trophy.

The performance levels are so much higher in these quadrennial events, to an extent that they serve as a platform for new theories and tactics which the Europeans, in particular, are known to unleash on unsuspecting opponents.That being the case, and giving due weightage to the prestige of a World Cup competition, the selectors need to go strictly by form and fitness rather than sentiments while deciding on the 16-member squad.

The reported statement that Dhanraj Pillay and Baljit Singh Saini "would be fit in time for the World Cup", is rather disturbing as it would mean that they are presently less than hundred per cent fit.

Under the circumstances, the selection is bound to be tricky, and, in more ways than one, it will be of great significance, keeping in mind the Commonwealth (September) and Asian Games (December), later thisyear.