Mongia return right move, says Alam

Murmurs of the Punjab Cricket Association PCA pulling strings and their uncanny clout in the new BCCI set-up have started even before Mongia can join Team India, a year after he last played a ODI against Pakistan in April, 2005. But there is one man who has seen the Punjab skipper closely during the last two years and says that it is nothing but 8216;8216;a just reward for unstinted dedication and a never-say-die spirit.8217;8217;

Former Pakistan captain and Punjab coach for the last two seasons, Intikhab Alam was delighted when he was informed about Mongia8217;s inclusion in the Indian side. 8216;8216;In my long cricketing career, I have seen a number of players who lose the drive and get disillusioned after they are out of the team and they no longer enjoy the star status. But Mongia never missed a net session and always tried to improve,8217;8217; Alam told The Indian Express.

The Alam-Mongia bonding can easily be understood8212;both all-rounder spinners who have a wealth of county experience. Alam8217;s motto is simple: When one is always in a match situation, there is always a chance of improvement. Mongia followed this diktat diligently.

After the grind of the domestic season, Mongia packed his bags for the English county season. Mongia started with Lancashire minor teams but his all-round skills slowly saw him graduate to the main XI. Despite not being in the Indian team, the county contracts always landed at his doors.

The left-handers capability to bat anywhere in the order and disciplined spin bowling made him a big hit in one-dayers and Twenty20 contests. And as Alam tells you, it is this versatility that will see him fit perfectly in Greg Chappell8217;s scheme of things.

8216;8216;While batting he can change gears whenever he wants. He can also bowl in the mid-overs and is effective at the death too. I think his biggest strength is the tight line and length that makes scoring quite tough,8217;8217; says Alam.

Mongia has been a regular No.3 for Punjab but playing for India he has scored a 159 while opening the innings and during the 2003 World Cup he was a regular No.6. But it is mainly his bowling that has seen Mongia get a recall.

As the chairman of selectors Kiran More says, 8216;8216;A left-arm spinners gives variety to the attack. There aren8217;t many left-armers around at present and since Mongia is a proven batsmen too he fits the bill perfectly.8217;8217;

Regulars at Mohali say that the former Pakistan leggie Alam has a big role to play in Mongia improving his bowling. The coach, though reluctantly, talks about the long sessions with Mongia. 8216;8216;His right foot wasn8217;t landing perfectly and that was the reason his bowling wasn8217;t disciplined. We worked on it but all credit to Mongia for this comeback,8217;8217; he says.

But a comeback for Mongia will be tough considering that he played all his international cricket in the Wright-Ganguly era. It remains to be seen if he can have longer stint and survive till the World Cup. In case he does, Mongia will be remembered as a World Cup to World Cup player.