Kambli among probables, Laxman not considered

MUMBAI, MAY 5: In what is seen as a horses-for-courses policy, the Chandu Borde-chaired selection committee ignored the cracking form of V...

MUMBAI, MAY 5: In what is seen as a horses-for-courses policy, the Chandu Borde-chaired selection committee ignored the cracking form of Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman while shortlisting 25 probables for the Asia Cup One-Day Championship to be held at Dhaka, Bangladesh, from May 28-June 7.

Laxman hammered ten hundreds — including a triple century — to amass 1,145 runs in the season just gone by, but his form in the One-Day Internationals in Australia and his overall track record went against him in the two-hour long deliberations at the Cricket Club of India on Friday.

Confirmation to the effect came when Borde said in his post-meeting chat with mediapersons: “We (the selectors) felt that Laxman would be more useful in Tests than in the one-dayers.”

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Saurav Ganguly, who is presently playing county cricket in England, was retained as captain and will be attending the conditioning camp — to be held in Pune from May 15-24 — according to BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele.

Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble, who also are busy playing county cricket, figure in the list but have been excused from the attending the camp.

Vinod Kambli (Mumbai) is back in contention along with youngsters Shiv Sunder Das (Orissa), all-rounder Reetender Singh Sodhi, middle-order batsmen Mohammad Kaif and Hemang Badani (Tamil Nadu), pace bowlers Zahir Khan (Baroda), Amit Bhandari (Delhi) and left-arm spinner Murali Karthik (Railways). Baroda batsman Martin Jacob and Pune’s Hrishikesh Kanitkar have also been included.

When asked why opener Sridharan Sriram (Tamil Nadu) was given the nod Borde said, “his local performance has been excellent.” When reminded that the same holds true for Laxman, Borde had few answers. “We basically saw who would contibute more to the One-Day team. We are looking for a team which can have a better balance,” he stressed.

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About the inclusion of Jacob Martin, Borde said that it was a unanimous choice. “We always have a unanimous choice,” he said before adding that “this is after we discuss and deliberate.”

According to Borde, Kanitkar got a recall as the selectors felt he hadn’t got enough chances to prove his mettle.

Asked why Mumbai’s left-arm spinner Rajesh Pawar, who did so well in the Ranji Trophy, was not considered, Borde said his name was discussed but since there are already three left-arm spinners in the list he could not be accomodated.

When queried as to why the length of the training camp is more than the duration of the tournament, Borde explained that since it is hot in Pune and that most players have not played much cricket of late it would help them condition themselves.

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Whether the showing of the youngsters during the camp will help impress the selectors, “it would be taken into account,” said Borde.

The 14-member team will be announced at Pune on May 22.

The probables: Saurav Ganguly (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Vinod Kambli, Nikhil Chopra, Sadagoppan Ramesh, Mohammad Kaif, Robin Singh, Nayan Mongia, Saba Karim, Shiv Sunder Das, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Martin Jacob, Hemang Badani, Ajit Agarkar, Thiru Kumaran, Amit Bhandari, Zahir Khan, Sridharan Sriram, Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Murali Karthik.