The Cricket Board is not to give any directive to the national selection panel on the composition of the Indian team to be chosen for the June 8-14 triangular series in Bangladesh even though BCCI feels it’s an ideal event for experiments. “There’s going to be no directive, but this tournament seems ideal to take some risk by including new players in the team,” BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said today ahead of the selection of the squads for Bangladesh and the subsequent Asia Cup late next month in Pakistan. The selectors are to meet here on Friday to pick the members of the two teams. Speculations are already on about the chances of seniors like Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, who were omitted for the previous tri-series that India played in Australia, being inducted into the squads. Asked about news reports that Sachin Tendulkar may not be available for the short visit to Bangladesh, the BCCI secretary said that the selection panel chief (Dilip Vengsarkar) would be the one in the know of these things.South Australia swoop for Younis Sydney: Pakistan batsman Younis Khan has been offered a contract by Australian domestic side South Australia, their coach Mark Sorell said today. The 30-yea-old star was considering the offer, Sorell said, adding it would not affect his national duties with Pakistan.“Younis is currently one of the world’s best batsmen. Recruiting him is an important step in our recruiting strategy and an opportunity that presents itself as too good to miss,” Sorell said.The news follows reports that Younis was set to follow in the footsteps of countrymen Majid Khan, Imran Khan and Sadiq Mohammad and play in Australia. “We have no objection to him playing for an Australian side when our national team is not playing,” Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Nasim Ashraf said.
