The golden boy of Indian Cricket was sent back home from the India tour in South Africa. This decision has evoked mixed reactions in his hometown.
Kiran More, a former selection committee chairman appreciated the decision, whereas Ashok Mankad, Baroda Ranji coach has criticized the Indian team management and the present selection committee chairman, Dilip Vengsarkar for sending back Irfan Pathan.
Kiran More said:
It is good for Irfan. It is good to play cricket at home than carry drinks abroad. Irfan is very much in the reckoning for the World Cup. His usefulness for the Indian team cannot be questioned. I’ve had a word with Vengsarkar.
However, Ashok Mankad is very upset, and feels this decision an insult and humiliation for the young all-rounder.
Mankad said:
If Baroda Cricket Association wants, I’ll let him play for the side, as he is an international player and his presence in the team will be of great use.
Former Indian opener Anshuman Gaekwad, considered that Pathan was a golden boy of Indian Cricket last year. What happened in the last 12 months, he has gone awry. According to him, if the selection committee can send Pathan back, then why not Sehwag too.
Pathan’s absence from the tour can give a rough way to the team, as he is an all-rounder. Being out of form, Virendra Sehwag is just a piece of garbage in the team. He should be sent back instead of Pathan, as this may give an opportunity to Pathan to bag the world cup. Sending Pathan back is not an issue, rather the main point is that Sehwag too must accompany him. If the selection committee thinks that domestic exposure can play magic with the players out of form, then they are living in a different world. There is a lot of difference in the pitch condition in South Africa and India does not have those to practice on. If Ganguly is back after a long time, it’s not because of the domestic cricket he played during those bad days, rather it’s his determination and will due to which he’s now able to regain his form and is back with a bang. Sehwag too must be eliminated so that he can think on this form and prepare for the coming world cup. Certainly, we cannot afford to miss both these players from the team now and coaches must take strict decisions to smarten up the rough patches.
Via: DNA SPORT
