Atul Wassan seeks justice

It was a rather dejected Wassan who told mediamen here today that he had been performing to the best of his ability despite not getting `justice’ from the selectors. He pleaded for “just one more chance” to prove that he was “still fit and good enough” to perform for the country.

The Air-India employee, who earned his New Zealand tour in 1989-90 on the strength of his taking 49 wickets for Delhi in nine Ranji Trophy matches, played for India A in 1993 against the touring English cricketers. “Ankola and Paras Mhambrey played along with me in that series in which I ended up as the highest wicket-taker among the three pace bowlers.

Yet, when it came to picking the team for the tour of Kenya, the two others found a place and I was left out,” Wassan said.

A similar fate awaited Wassan after the Challenger Trophy in Calcutta. While Prashant Vaidya, representing Bengal then, got the selectors’ nod, Wassan was ignored.

“With the power base shifting to Haryana and Punjab, it was but natural that the Delhi administrators had little say in selectorial matters. No wonder, the last of Delhi’s cricketers played way back in 1989-90. It is sad that performance in domestic tournaments have not been acknowledged properly,” Wassan said.

Wassan, whose last Test appearance for the country was at the Oval in England during the 1990 tour (he played only one Test there), said he did not renew his minor counties contract this season because, “I was hopeful of making it to the Indian team this time after my domestic performance.

I waited patiently for the last six years in the hope that my performance in Ranji Trophy would be considered. Now, when I see players with lesser performances getting a look-in, I wonder where I have gone wrong,” asked Wassan.