Chance for juniors to make their mark’

NAGPUR, March 20: The forthcoming Sharjah tournament may prove to be manna from heaven for youngsters, who are out to prove a point to th...

NAGPUR, March 20: The forthcoming Sharjah tournament may prove to be manna from heaven for youngsters, who are out to prove a point to the selectors at large.

The list of probables for the World Cup and the team for the first two matches of the Pepsi series, clearly suggests that the mandarins of Indian cricket have decided to place their bets on the young horses — particularly in the current tournament and the desert series.

“There is no doubt that these tournaments, where the youngsters have a major role to play, would help us prepare in a big way for the World Cup,” stated the Indian coach Anshuman Gaekwad . He said the basic reason of having so many youngsters in the team was to expose them more at the demanding international level and in the process scan their potential which could prove beneficial in India’s bid to reclaim the world championship. If they live upto the expectations, they would certainly be a part of the World Cup team, Gaekwad assured.

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“To add to our benefit, most of the youngmen included in the team are either genuine all-rounders. And the rest, barring a few, fall in the all-rounders’ mould. That is our real asset,” he said.

And what after they pass the acid test and fly over to England to play the World Cup? “We will have to adapt to the English conditions quickly. It will be very, very important for us,” stressed the former Indian star opener.

With Sachin Tendulkar down with his back injury, Ajit Agarkar and Vinod Kamble, have staged a comeback. According to Gaekwad, Kambli stands a very good chance of playing the first two matches of the ongoing series.